The Bud Billiken Parade Is TODAY — Oakland's South Side Doorstep Is the Place to Be
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Oakland ·
The moment Oakland residents have been anticipating all summer is finally here. The 97th Annual Bud Billiken Parade steps off this morning, Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 10 a.m. — and for Community Area 36, it couldn't be closer to home. The parade launches from 39th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, rolling right through the South Side corridor that Oakland calls its backyard, before concluding with a full festival in Washington Park.
This year's celebration is especially electric. Chicago native and actress LisaRaye McCoy — best known for her roles in *The Players Club* and *Single Ladies* — serves as Grand Marshal, bringing hometown pride to a parade that draws over 500,000 spectators along its two-mile route. Up to 300 groups participate, including marching bands, drill teams, and floats, making it the largest African American parade in the nation. ABC7 Chicago is broadcasting the event live from 10 a.m. to noon.
After the parade, the Back-to-School Festival in Washington Park offers families free school supplies, free haircuts, health screenings, college admissions resources, a job fair, food vendors, and live performances by local artists. It's a one-stop celebration of community, culture, and education that the South Side — Oakland included — has cherished for nearly a century. Grab your lawn chairs, head to MLK Drive, and cheer on the bands. See you out there, Oakland!
Sources:
1. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/2026-bud-billiken-parade-chicago/
2. https://abc7chicago.com/post/abc7-chicago-broadcast-2026-bud-billiken-parade-august-8-celebrating-97-years-excellence-grand-marshal-lisaraye-mccoy/19602733/
3. https://www.choosechicago.com/blog/special-events/bud-billiken-parade-2026/
4. https://www.givesignup.org/TicketEvent/bbpbacktoschoolfestival2026