Thousands of Chicagoans gathered in the Loop on Monday for the city’s 72nd annual Columbus Day parade. The celebration of Italian American heritage featured floats, marching bands, singers, and dancers descending State Street. The parade’s theme this year was “Bridging gaps, celebrating our heritage, and protecting our culture.” 

Watching the festivities on Monday was out-of-towner Bella Raffin. “I’m not from here, so this is like a new thing for me to see all the people and all the culture going on,” she said. “It’s really fun.” Attendee Francesca Delmedico echoed Raffin’s sentiments. “It’s important to know our culture better,” she said.