I submitted an application to ride in the 2011 McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago and it was accepted. Thanksgiving Day is Thursday, November 24.
Chicago is a 12-hour drive from Atlanta. A few local riders and I plan to leave early, around 6 a.m. on Wednesday, November 23 and arrive that evening.
If you’re in the Chicago area (or anywhere else!), join us! There’s no entry fee. It’ll be a fun ride with a huge audience. I’ve cut/pasted a note below from the coordinator. The parade will be broadcast by WGN-TV into approximately 75 million households. If you’re interested, email me at john@unicycle.com.
Congratulations, your group has been accepted to perform in the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade! Attached is your acceptance letter which gives more details about the upcoming parade. We are very excited to have you on board.
As a reminder, if you require overnight accommodations, you must stay at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers (more information is located in the attachment). Also, note that all accepted units must provide a certificate of insurance to the Chicago Festival Association naming Chicago Festival Association as an additional insured.
We look forward to seeing you Thanksgiving morning,
I would love to join you guys, but it’s a bit more than 12 hours from here, plus I’ll actually be in an airplane that day. Have a great time! Do it like Ferris Bueller would.
Aw. I thought it meant you were “chiss a kid” at heart.
How many people do you have? And do you plan to ride in any special formation? I might be interested in coming and I could probably bring some other riders from Chicago if you want.
Anyhow I think the parade is a huge advertising opportunity (which probably mirrors your thoughts). There’s a gazillion people that go, many probably wouldn’t think of trying/buying a unicycle otherwise.
Three of us from Atlanta will be joining about 10 riders in the Chicago area on Thanksgiving Day to ride in the McDonald’s parade. The organizers are expecting about 375,000 people to line the streets of Chicago and watch us ride by. Well, not just us.
Want to join us? Send an email to john@unicycle.com. Otherwise, watch for us on WGN-TV!
Oh man, but I just ordered a new tire. Who will be there to fill the orders if your all riding up to Chicago for the parade?
Never mind my order. Happy to wait for the UDC team, knowing they are off having some well earned fun. Wishing you all a safe and fun trip. Will watch for ya in the parade broadcast.
Where the Coker tire wore down to the threads in 3months, the Nightrider tire is just approaching the threads after 18months. UDC has the best.
Hi Ken. We had a blast at the parade in Chicago. My son Casey and I met a lot of kind and talented riders up there. Even the weather favored us.
I’m glad our team got your order shipped. They’re a dedicated bunch who love cycling. I hope you’ll drop in on us next time you’re traveling through Atlanta. We have a lot of new toys to play with!
