Hundreds of excited parade-goers — from young children to the elderly — cheered with rosy cheeks and runny noses as a giant inflatable turkey slowly made its way down State Street Thursday morning, marking the beginning of the 91st Thanksgiving Parade in the Loop.
Attendees say the joyful atmosphere comes at a time where the city needs it following a tense couple of months stemming from Operation Midway Blitz and, more recently, a pair of shootings in the Loop shortly after the Christmas tree lighting ceremony that left 14-year-old Armani Floyd dead and eight other teens wounded Friday night.
“I think it’s really, really important for people to come out and show that we’re not afraid and that we’re able to all be together and be here for the same cause, [which is] just celebrating being thankful,” said Lupe Moya, 37.
Moya, who came to the parade from north-suburban Zion with her parents, cousins, aunts, nephews, nieces and kids, has made the parade an essential part of her family’s Thanksgiving tradition for more than a decade…