Chicago's 2014 Columbus Day Parade
CHICAGO (WLS) -- ABC 7 CHICAGO, the official station of the 62nd annual Columbus Day Parade, broadcast the parade live, Monday, October 13th, from 12:30-2:30 pm on ABC 7's 7.2. An encore presentation of the Columbus Day Parade will air on Sunday, October 19th from 2-3:00 pm on the station's main channel, ABC 7.
ABC 7 Chicago was the only TV station in town to broadcast the Columbus Day Parade.
The 2014 parade's central theme paid tribute to Italian heroes of the Holocaust. "We must never forget the victims, survivors and heroes of the Holocaust," said Giovanni Gullo, chairman of this year's parade.
Watch: The Chicago Columbus Day Parade, part one
ABC 7's Sports Anchor and Sports Director Mark Giangreco and Feature/Entertainment reporter and 190 NORTH host Janet Davies hosted this year's festivities. Riding atop the ABC 7 Columbus Day Parade float was Kathy Brock, Steve Dolinsky, Jessica Donofrio, Alan Krashesky and Jerry Taft.
Watch: The Chicago Columbus Day Parade, part two
The fun began on October 13th at 12:30 pm when the parade returned to State Street, "that Great Street," after more than 20 years. It previously took place on Columbus Drive.
Watch: The Chicago Columbus Day Parade, part three
The parade started on State at Wacker Drive and continued south to Van Buren. Serving as this year's Grand Marshal is John Coli, President, Teamsters Joint Council 25
and Vice President, Central Region, International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Watch: The Chicago Columbus Day Parade, part four
The Columbus Day Parade Queen, 22-year-old Chelsea Clementi Latoria Baker of Roselle, Illinois, was front and center along with her majestic court. Baker is a Magnum Cum Laude graduate from Dominican University and is currently an early education educator. She began her reign this summer after she was selected during a pageant sponsored by the Joint Civil Committee of Italian Americans.
Watch: The Chicago Columbus Day Parade, part five
The Great Lakes Navy Band led the parade joined by more than 150 units consisting of marchers, bands, drum and bugle corps and floats.
Watch: The Chicago Columbus Day Parade, part six
Also participating in this two-hour civic event was the Italian American War Veterans, Women's division of JCCIA, Jessie White Tumbling Team and many more Italian-American organizations and businesses such as Gullo International Development, Tony's Finer Foods, Pan American Bank, Supreme Lobster and Seafood, Gene & Georgetti, Rago Brothers Funeral Home, Gonnella and Turano Baking Companies.
Watch: The Chicago Columbus Day Parade, part seven
The Columbus Day Parade celebrates Christopher Columbus and his monumental voyage which was first acknowledged in Illinois in 1963 when it became a legal holiday.
The Columbus Day Parade is produced by ABC 7 Chicago.
