The Denver Citywide Marching Band will march in the prestigious Jingle Elf Parade through the streets of downtown Chicago this Thanksgiving.

The band will be seen by an estimated 1.2 million viewers internationally in one of the country's biggest Thanksgiving parades kicking off the holiday season.

The parade will be held Thursday, November 22 (Thanksgiving Day) from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Chicago (7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. in Denver). The parade runs along State Street from Congress to Randolph in downtown Chicago.

The Denver Citywide Marching Band is a musical, marching and dance band featuring talented students from all 11 high schools in DPS.

The trip will cap a successful season including performances at Invesco Field at Mile High during a pre-season Denver Broncos game and regional competitions.

The band will perform at a high school in rural Illinois, at the parade and at Chicago's Daly Center. The band will also visit Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, the Museum of Science and Industry. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Blue Man Group will also treat the students to performances.

The band is directed by Dave Hammond (Denver School of the Arts), assisted by Jodi Knapp (West High School) and Rudy Royston (Smith Elementary).