Plan Your Festival

Airbnbs & Hotels

Book Room

RVs & Campers

Book an RV

About This Festival

Previous Location

King Drive from Oakwood Blvd to 55th and Ellsworth Dr.|5531 South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive, Chicago, IL | Map

Everfest's Take

From the Organizer

The Bud Billiken ® Parade is the second largest parade in the United States. It has grown into an institution with participation from across generations and across the country. The parade takes place every second Saturday in August. The parade proceeds south on King Dr. from Oakwood Blvd. to 51st St. and continues on Ellsworth Dr. thru Washington Park to 55th St. where it disbands. It is broadcast live on ABC7 Chicago with picnics and other events in the park throughout the day. Many celebrities have appeared in the Bud Billiken ® Parade. From the past, the parade has seen Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, Roy Rogers, Lena Horne and former President Harry S. Truman. In recent years, the parade has enjoyed the company of then Senator Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, L.L. Cool J, Spike Lee, Michael Jordan, Frank Thomas, Donny Osmond, Queen Latifah, Tyler Perry and more.