Over 22,000 people joined me for the China Day Parade!

Chicago’s Chinatown isn’t the country’s biggest but it’s authentic and perhaps the friendliest.  I usually drop in when I can for dim sum and Asian groceries.  But today, I was there to emcee the China Day Parade marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

With China's Consul General Ping Huang & Chicago Alderman Danny Solis.

As I walked the parade route with Ping Huang, China’s Consul General to Chicago, he remarked “This is fantastic.  Just amazing!” We were both impressed by the turnout of tens of thousands of people lining both sides of Wentworth Avenue up to the Chinatown arch.

I’m certain the China Day Parade in Beijing won’t be anything like the one in Chicago.  Along with groups and representatives from every Asian community, there were rockin’ high school marching bands and even the Shannon Rovers in their traditional kilts.

Lots o' Lion Dances.

Emceeing a parade can be a challenge.  The list of participants seldom matches the actual parade lineup.  And it never fails – big gaps develop between groups so the emcee has to fill the time.

Thank goodness for Gene Lee, Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Daley.  He’s a key member of the Chinatown community so he’s awesome to banter with. Sure beats me tap dancing or singing Chinese nursery rhymes!