WGN’s Robin Baumgarten and Paul Konrad will host the annual “McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade,” Thursday, November 24 from 8-11am CT, live and in HD, on Chicago’s Very Own WGN-TV and nationally on WGN America. WGN’s Ana Belaval will serve as street-side reporter.

The 78th annual parade kicks off the 2011 holiday season traveling down historic State Street with “Two and a Half Men” star Holland Taylor as Grand Marshal.  WGN’s goodwill ambassador and Chicago favorite Bozo the Clown will preside over the WGN-TV float, along with WGN’s Frank Holland, Erin McElroy, Dean Richards and Jackie Bange.  The “McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade” will also feature special performances from a variety of acts including Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, giant balloons, bands from across the country, high-stepping equestrians, fabulous floats, performance groups and Santa Claus. 

An encore of the “McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade” will also be seen Thanksgiving afternoon from 1-4pm CT on cable news channel CLTV in the Chicago; Rockford, IL; and South Bend, IN areas.

WGN first televised the parade in 1966 when it was called the “State Street Christmas Parade.”

Emmy Award-winner Holland Taylor is currently starring in “Ann,” a new play she also wrote about Ann Richards, the late but unforgettable Texas governor, now through December 4th at Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre.  “Two and a Half Men” airs Mondays – Saturdays at 6pm and nightly at 10:30pm on Chicago’s Very Own WGN-TV.