Schedule of Events
Live Concerts on the BMO Harris Bank Stage
11:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
BMO Harris Bank Stage, Pioneer Court, 401 North Michigan Avenue
Join us at the BMO Harris Bank Stage the afternoon of November 19, 2011, for exciting musical performances!
11:00 a.m.: Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players
12:00 p.m.: The Never Land Pirate Band
1:00 p.m.: Radio Disney AM 1300 Road Crew, Radio Disney’s N.B.T. (Next Big Thing) Artist Shealeigh, China Anne McClain and The McClain Sisters presented by Radio Disney
2:30 p.m.: Haley Reinhart with Special Guest Casey Abrams
Click here to learn more about the artists and to watch videos.
Lights Festival Lane
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Pioneer Court, 401 North Michigan Avenue
Come to Lights Festival Lane to enjoy family friendly experiences at a thoroughfare of holiday booths. Decorate (and devour!) an Eli’s Cheesecake, play fun games, take a photo with Santa and more!
NEW for 2011: Visit the NEW festival area in the John Hancock Center Plaza (875 N. Michigan Avenue)! Play a giant board game with BMO Harris Bank, visit the Disney Vacation Club booth, check out the on-site Chevy display and more.
Click here for a listing of 2011 Lights Festival Lane participants and booth activities.
Lighting Procession on Michigan Avenue
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
North Michigan Avenue, from Oak Street to Wacker Drive
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse lead the illumination of more than one million lights on The Magnificent Mile® to officially start the nation’s holiday season!
Also, watch The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival presented by BMO Harris Bank LIVE on ABC 7 Chicago from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.! Plus, check back to see when the show will be broadcast in your city!
Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida
disneyworld.disney.go.com
Mickey Mouse will be joined once again by Minnie Mouse on the lead procession float to illuminate more than one million lights on 200 trees to kick off the holiday season!
Plus, watch for their friends as they come cruising down the route in double decker buses and on floats. Chip ‘n’ Dale, Goofy, Pluto, Donald and Daisy will all be part of the fun!
BMO Harris Bank
www.harrisbank.com
Hubert Inflatable Balloon
Hubert the Harris Lion, the iconic mascot of BMO Harris Bank, makes his annual appearance in this year’s parade as a 35 foot balloon, manned by employee volunteers.
Double Decker BMO Harris Bus
Passengers will be able to participate in all the excitement of the tree-lighting procession, and this special bus will remain in local circulation in the city of Chicago for one month following the Lights Festival, so keep an eye out for it around town!
Helpful Steps for Parents Float
Helpful Steps for Parents is a program designed to help parents teach their children age appropriate lessons about the value of money. Riding the Helpful Steps for Parents Float are Elizabeth Walker, Jabarie McCoy and Jeffrey McCoy, children from BMO Harris’ new Helpful Steps for Parents TV commercials. Also joining the ride down The Magnificent Mile are employees and families of BMO Harris Bank.
Community Float
BMO Harris Bank celebrates their partners in the communities where we live, work and play. Their community float will incorporate mascots from several of their professional sport league partners including the Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks, Rockford IceHogs and more. Also represented will be many of their community partners in the arts, entertainment and charitable organizations, including United Way.
ABC7 Chicago
www.abc7chicago.com
Celebrating the holiday season with good cheer will be the familiar faces of the ABC7 news team atop the station float. This is the fifth consecutive year ABC7 will broadcast this sparkling kick off to the holidays - in Chicago and around the country - via syndication. The special will also be streamed live on http://www.abc7chicago.com.
Catch the show live at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 19 on ABC7, or the rebroadcasts on December 4 at 12:30 p.m., December 10 at 1:30 p.m. and December 18 at 1:30 p.m. For those outside of Chicago, check back to see when The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival presented by BMO Harris Bank is playing in your city!
Best Western Hotels of Illinois
www.bestwesternillinois.com
Do not miss Bridgit Mendler, Adam Hicks and Hayley Kiyoko, stars of the Disney Channel Original Movie Lemonade Mouth on the Best Western Hotels of Illinois float.
Candyality
www.candyality.com
A new addition to the procession this year, Chicago’s very own, Candyality, sweetly illuminates The Magnificent Mile with their “Candyality Land” float. Inspiring pure imagination of chocolate covered days and sugar coated tomorrows, the magical vessel is adorned with candy-scape treats, lollipop forests, and sugar sparkled surprises to delight children of all ages. Sneak a peek at the celebrity riding the float - Loretta Swit from Broadway In Chicago’s “Love, Loss, and What I Wore”. Don’t miss the sweet treats they will be passing out!
Chevy
www.chevrolet.com
Look out for the new Chevrolet Sonic, Chevrolet Volt, and Chevrolet Cruze as they join the procession down The Magnificent Mile. Catch a glimpse of them before they cruise down The Magnificent Mile - the Sonic, Cruze, and Equinox are showcased on Upper Illinois Street at Michigan Avenue; the Chevrolet Volt is standing strong at the John Hancock Center Plaza.
Chicago Flower & Garden Show
www.chicagoflower.com
The Chicago Flower & Garden Show joins The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival presented by BMO Harris Bank for the first time this year. The Chicago Flower & Garden Show annually heralds spring’s arrival to the city and – in 2012 – will do so from March 10 - 18. Titled “Spring Experience,” the Chicago Flower & Garden Show’s float replicates a giant “spring globe” infused with the colors, style and inspiration of “Hort Couture” – the Chicago Flower & Garden show’s theme for 2012. Music on the float will be performed by Greg Koeppen of Medleys In Motion and “garden girls” – iconic models representing “Hort Couture” – will accompany the spring globe, pulled by a vehicle provided by Chicago Flower & Garden Show sponsor Chevrolet. For more on the 2012 Chicago Flower & Garden Show, please visit www.chicagoflower.com.
Chicago Park District
www.chicagoparkdistrict.com
Join in the holiday fun and become mesmerized with the “Holiday Delights” float presented by Chicago Park District. Enjoy the twinkling lights on trees, festive music, and cheerful riders as they make their way down The Magnificent Mile on Chicago Park District’s enchanting float!
Chicago Trolley and Double Deckers
www.chicagotrolley.com
See Disney friends, including Goofy, Pluto and Chip ‘n’ Dale, plus other friends on the iconic double deckers!
Children’s Memorial Hospital & Kohl’s
www.childrensmemorial.org
Look who’s come to town! Mr. Safety Snowman is a happy jolly soul for sure because Children’s Memorial Hospital together with Kohl’s Cares are the co-sponsors of this balloon which celebrates several things. Thanks to support from Kohl’s Cares, Children’s Memorial was able to establish Kohl’s Cares for Kids Safety Network in 2005. Through this network, Kohl’s Cares and Children’s Memorial work together throughout the community to build safe play spaces and distribute home safety information and materials to families. And if you haven’t heard, Children’s Memorial Hospital is moving in June 2012 and becoming Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. This new state-of-the-art building will still offer the same compassionate, superior care it always has - yet better!
• Located at 225 E Chicago Avenue just off of this lovely street called The Magnificent Mile
• Tallest pediatric hospital in the world
• Rooftop helipad to transport the most critical patients
• All amenity-rich private rooms
• And an ED that will double its size for all of those unexpected emergencies
Helping the snowman get safely down the route are volunteers from the Kohl’s Department Stores as well as some very loyal Children’s Memorial caregivers.
DePaul University
www.depaul.edu
On a float adorned in blue and white lights, the Belden Brass Quintet from DePaul’s renowned School of Music will perform holiday tunes and be accompanied by the DePaul Dance Team and cheerleaders.
Disney’s The Muppets
disney.com/muppets
Stay tuned for the Kermit balloon brought to you by Disney’s The Muppets, in theatres everywhere Thanksgiving!
Funjet Vacations
www.funjet.com
Watch for the big red-nosed reindeer as he comes Funjetting down Michigan Avenue powered by the Funjet Vacations team during The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival presented by BMO Harris Bank!
Giant Balloons
Don’t miss the larger-than-life Red-nosed Reindeer making its way down Michigan Avenue brought to us by Funjet Vacations! Filled with 6,000 cubic feet of helium to help him glide along the parade route, this balloon is 50 feet long and requires 34 handlers to keep him floating in the air.
Mr. Safety Snowman, brought to us by Children’s Memorial Hospital and Kohl’s Cares, is a jolly soul who will glide down the route helped along by volunteers from the Kohl’s Department Stores as well as some very loyal Children’s Memorial caregivers.
Plus, stay tuned for Kermit brought to you by Disney’s The Muppets, in theatres everywhere Thanksgiving!
Additional balloons to watch for in the procession include the Holiday Ornaments, Nutcracker and Hubert the Harris Lion.
Garrett Popcorn Shops
www.garrettpopcorn.com
Kick off this holiday season with the Garrett Popcorn Shops float entitled, “Tins the Season”. The float features three Garrett Holiday Tins stacked more than 25’ high. A holiday tradition for more than 60 years, the Garrett float depicts the iconic Michigan Avenue experience. Enjoy the CaramelCrisp® Carolers on board the float and watch as the chef cooks their famous secret family recipe, right before your eyes. You will smell the enticing aroma as they shake up a bag of their famous Chicago Mix. You might be lucky enough to grab a taste of the irresistible treat as they pass out samples along the parade route!
Harry Caray’s Restaurant Group
www.harrycarays.com
Be on the lookout for the Harry Caray’s Restaurants float pulled by the Chicago Cubs custom trolley. Harry Caray, the beloved hall-of-fame broadcaster was the voice of the Cubs for 16 years. The crowd can hear the Cubs trolley playing “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” as it drives down the avenue – Harry was known for singing his enthusiastic rendition of the song during the 7th inning stretch of every home game. Legendary hall of fame Cubs player Ernie Banks, and the first lady of Chicago baseball, Dutchie Caray, both partners in the restaurant, and Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood are riding the Harry Caray’s float. Harry Caray’s legendary Italian Steakhouse is known for its award winning prime steaks, chops and Italian favorites. Harry Caray’s Tavern, which opened last year on Navy Pier, offers a more casual menu as well as the Chicago Sports Museum. You never know who you might see when you stop by Harry’s, including partners Patrick Kane, Richard Dent and Ryne Sandberg.
John Hancock Observatory
www.hancock-observatory.com
The official Magnificent Mile Lights Festival® presented by BMO Harris Bank Santa is riding on the John Hancock Observatory Winter Wonderland float! John Hancock Observatory is in its 4th year of Winter Wonderland. Wave to Santa as he flies through the antennas of the John Hancock Center.
Lights Festival Float
See Interscope recording artist and American Idol finalist, Haley Reinhart, as she rides down Michigan Avenue on the Lights Festival Float with fellow Idol alum, Casey Abrams. Don’t miss a chance to hear them sing their own rendition of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”
Marching Bands
Here come the marching bands! Feel the beat of the drum and sway to the music as exciting marching bands bring their energy and magnificent sound to The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival® presented by BMO Harris Bank!
Spring-Ford Senior High School Golden Ram Marching Band
The Spring-Ford Senior High School Golden Ram Marching Band is from Royersford, Pennsylvania and is under the direction of Mr. John E. Eckstine, Jr. The band had its first undefeated season in school history in 2007. They have claimed 13 championship titles and have had the honor of marching in the Hollywood Santa Parade and Philadelphia’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline
The 20-member Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline from Crystal Lake, IL is comprised of collegiate level percussionists as well as individuals from championship drum corps. The Strikers play modern hip-hop and other catchy beats in addition to the traditional straight ahead technical material that drum corps utilize. The group performs in parades, major sporting events and festivals throughout the region. Sporting their retro bowling shirts and zebra-skinned drums, the Strikers’ philosophy is all about having a good time!
Loyola Academy Marching Ramblers
The Loyola Academy Marching Ramblers are from Wilmette, Illinois. The school is home to 2,000 students annually. It is the largest Jesuit run high school in the nation and is part of the oldest network of high schools in the world, with the first school established more than 450 years ago in Messina, Italy. Loyola’s Marching Band was established in 1965 and in 1969, was the Illinois representative at the Presidential inauguration of Richard M. Nixon.
Proviso East High School Band
The Proviso East High School Marching Band was organized in 1993 with 17 students under the leadership of Mr. Reginald A. Wright Jr. The band has now grown to approximately 130 members. With an attempt to give the young adults at the Proviso East High School an opportunity to display their musical talents, Mr. Wright has worked diligently with them before and after school in addition to Saturdays. He has enhanced what some knew, while cultivating new talents in others. Many of Proviso East’s band participants have gone on to receive scholarships at various universities around the world.
Morton West Mustang Band
The 80-member Morton West High School Band from Berwyn, Illinois is under the direction of Dr. Larry Pearce. For the past eight years, the organization has traveled to band contests and received superior/excellent ratings at all these events. They are playing “Falcon” the District 201 school song.
National Concierge Association
www.nationalconciergeassociation.com
The National Concierge Association has been connecting concierge professionals and hospitality partners internationally since 1998. The award winning NCA-Chicago Chapter provided members today to be Concierge Ambassadors along The Magnificent Mile. Catch Nathan Pacheco on their float, “Merry Holidays from the NCA,” as it goes down the parade route.
Navy Pier
www.navypier.com
Go A Little Overboard at Navy Pier! Lovable characters from Navy Pier’s Winter WonderFest will cruise down The Magnificent Mile in one of their very own trolleys! Open December 2, 2011 - January 8, 2012, Winter WonderFest is a month-long celebration of the season. Find these characters and many more Winter WonderFest friends strolling through Navy Pier during this festival.
Winter WonderFest is 170,000 square feet of indoor holiday family fun featuring rides, slides, the Chicago Blackhawks ice skating rink, entertainment and the most stunning decorations in town.
The Never Land Pirate Band
Watch for this band that provides all the songs and music for Disney Junior’s #1 series, “Jake and The Never Land Pirates”!
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
www.nmh.org
Ring in the holiday season with three festive ornaments handled by Northwestern Memorial Hospital nurses and employees as they parade down The Magnificent Mile!
Radio Disney AM 1300
www.radiodisney.com
Radio Disney kicks off the holiday season in Chicago featuring the star of Disney Channel’s hit TV series, “A.N.T Farm”. “A.N.T. Farm’s” China Anne McClain who plays “Chyna Parks” and members of the Radio Disney AM 1300 family welcome contest winners aboard the Radio Disney float.
South Shore Drill Team
www.southshoredrillteam.org
South Shore Drill Team will join in the festivities during the procession. Well-known for their amazing precision drilling, the team is a favorite of parade-goers everywhere. Founded in 1980 with a handful of neighborhood children, the team has grown to serve 350 young people - ages 8 to 21 - annually.
Shen Yun Show Chicago
www.ShenYun2012.com
Shen Yun Show Chicago joins The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival presented by BMO Harris Bank for the first time this year. Shen Yun Show Chicago annually presents the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music performance SHEN YUN at the Civic Opera House, and is bringing Shen Yun back again in 2012 from April 19 - 22. The New York based non-profit company Shen Yun Performing Arts was founded in 2006 with the mission to revive Chinese civilization and bridge the East and the West. Dozens of dancers in dazzling costumes move in seamless, flowing patterns. Thunderous drums shake the stage, while spectacular backdrops take you to another world. Shen Yun Performing Arts presents the true culture of China’s five-thousand-year-old civilization with original performances that not only entertain, but also educate, enrich, and inspire.
Underwriters Laboratories
www.safetyathome.com
Wave to Mrs. Claus on Underwriters Laboratories’ North Pole float as it makes its way into the procession this year! Underwriters Laboratories, a global safety organization, showcases a miniature version of the Santa House they have built right here in the city on Daley Plaza. Underwriters Laboratories Santa House opens November 23rd where children and families can experience the wonder of the North Pole and have their picture taken with Santa Claus throughout the holiday season. Underwriters Laboratories Santa House opens in coordination with the City of Chicago Annual Tree Lighting and offers activities and important safety tips to enjoy while children wait to tell Santa their holiday wishes.
Spectacular Fireworks
6:55 p.m.
North Michigan Avenue and the Chicago River
As a grand finale to the lighting procession, a spectacular fireworks show will begin at 6:55 p.m. over the Chicago River. The fireworks are choreographed by Rocco Saliano of Lumina, Inc. and offer a perfect ending to the fun-filled day of holiday activities and events!
Extended Shopping Hours!
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Get a head start on your holiday shopping with extended shopping hours at participating stores on The Magnificent Mile! After you shop til you drop, consider dining downtown or staying at one our many magnificent hotels.
Weekend Fun at Navy Pier
Saturday, November 19 at 9:00 p.m.
Bring the family for an incredible action-packed weekend! Visit Navy Pier on Saturday, November 19 at 9pm for a special fireworks show set to a Rock ‘N Roll holiday theme.
Sunday, November 20 at 10:00 a.m.
Come back to Navy Pier on Sunday for your chance to re-live the magic of the Lights Festival by seeing two of the most popular floats from the procession.
But the fun doesn’t stop there! Click here for more information on events happening at Navy Pier Lights Festival weekend!