Bud Billiken Parade 2013 steps off in Chicago

August 10, 2013 (WLS) -- Hundreds of thousands of people were ready to celebrate a Chicago tradition on the city's South Side Saturday.

The 84th annual Bud Billiken Parade was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. It goes south on King Drive from 39th Street to 55th Street in Washington Park.

Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts serves as honorary marshal.

The parade is the oldest and largest African-American parade in the United States. The focus every year is getting kids ready for school.

"This is a very exciting time of the year , not only for us putting the parade on, but for students going back to school. This year's challenging because of the school closures, but we still have to go back to school, get our lesson and learn and prepare ourselves for later life," said Colonel Eugene Scott, president of the Chicago Defender Charities.

ABC7's broadcast of the Bud Billiken Parade will be available on-demand here at www.abc7chicago.com later Saturday evening.

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local, evelyn holmes

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