Bud Billiken Parade steps off early this year

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The 87th annual Bud Billiken steps off in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood Saturday morning.

Dr. Marc Sengstacke, executive director of Chicago Defender Charities, joined ABC News at 11 a.m. to speak on the changes in store for this year's event.

Chicago Defender Charities runs the annual back-to-school celebration. In past years, the event has lasted as long as six hours. Organizers said this year, they can't afford such a long event. To achieve that end, organizers reduced the number of entries and imposed a 100-person cap on each participating group.

For 35 years, the South Shore Drill Team has been staple in the Bud Billiken Parade. As many as 300 participants have represented the group in past parades. Team officials said the group isn't willing to cut their head count and decided not to participate unless parade officials lift the cap.

Sengstacke spoke on the parade organizers' decision, as well as an earlier start time and this year's theme.