UChicago Leads 2015 Bud Billiken Parade

Annual parade is heralded as the second largest in the U.S.

  • 86th annual Bud Billiken parade

    The Bud Billiken Parade takes place every second Saturday in August. The 86th annual parade was held on Aug. 8, 2015, with the University of Chicago as the presenting sponsor.

    Powell Photography Inc.

  • 86th annual Bud Billiken parade

    The New Generation Fancy Drill Team led the University of Chicago’s procession in the 2015 Bud Billiken Parade with a lively performance.

    Powell Photography Inc.

  • 86th annual Bud Billiken parade

    University of Chicago staff and community partners rode a trolley in the 86th annual Bud Billiken parade. Waving to parade-watchers from the window are Rudy Nimocks, UChicago’s Director of Community Partnerships; Sonya Malunda, Senior Associate Vice President for Community Partnerships; and Charles Lampley.

    Powell Photography Inc.

  • 86th annual Bud Billiken parade

    Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. poses with Sonya Malunda and Charles Lampley at a breakfast event before the start of the 86th annual Bud Billiken Parade.

    Powell Photography Inc.

  • 86th annual Bud Billiken parade

    Rudy Nimocks, UChicago’s Director of Community Partnerships; Sonya Malunda, Senior Associate Vice President for Community Partnerships; and Charles Lampley.

    Powell Photography Inc.

  • 86th annual Bud Billiken parade

    Sonya Malunda, Senior Associate Vice President for Community Partnerships, and Shari Runner, interim President of the Chicago Urban League, at a breakfast event before the start of the Bud Billiken Parade on Aug. 8, 2015.

    Powell Photography Inc.

  • 86th annual Bud Billiken parade

    The University of Chicago led the 86th Annual Bud Billiken Parade on Aug. 8, as the presenting sponsor.

    Powell Photography Inc.

  • 86th annual Bud Billiken parade

    Students, parents, faculty, and staff from the University of Chicago Charter School rode on a decorative float that celebrated the school’s 100% college acceptance rate. UChicago Charter, which serves more than 1,900 students on four South Side campuses, participated in the Bud Billiken Parade for the first time this year.

    Powell Photography Inc.

  • 86th annual Bud Billiken parade

    Dr. Carol Adams, former president and CEO of the DuSable Museum of African American History, and Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) pose at a breakfast event before the start of the 86th annual Bud Billiken Parade.

Office of Civic Engagement

The University of Chicago, UChicago Medicine, and UChicago Charter School kicked off the 2015-2016 Back to School season, on Saturday, August 8, by leading the 86th annual Bud Billiken parade.

An annual tradition since 1929, the Bud Billiken parade is a two-mile march down Martin Luther King Drive, south from Oakwood Boulevard to 55th Street in Washington Park. It is sponsored by Chicago Defender Charities and heralded as the second largest parade in the U.S.

Originally published on September 8, 2015.