CHICAGO — A jolt of energy buzzed up and down Michigan Avenue on Friday as Chicago celebrated the Cubs' World Series championship with a festive parade.
Thousands of excited fans lined the Magnificent Mile, hoping for an up-close glimpse of the players who ended the Cubs' curse and 108-year drought.
Downtown Chicago packed for the parade! pic.twitter.com/g69sIQ6b17
— Alec Brzezinski (@brzezin_alec7) November 4, 2016
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Getting a better vantage point was key for some late-arriving spectators, so they went to great lengths to get a good spot. It hardly ever worked out for them in the end, however.
We have a tree climber at Cubs parade! pic.twitter.com/952gLsKwzP
— Alec Brzezinski (@brzezin_alec7) November 4, 2016
After the wave of Cubs players went through, and the parade moved on to Grant Park, fans stopped along the way to marvel at Chicago's many spectacular views. The first was the Chicago River, which was dyed blue for the parade. Some fans even jumped off a bridge into the river.
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A logjam that would make rush-hour traffic look tame held people from crossing a bridge as thousands of people stopped to take a picture of the beautiful scene below them.
Chicago painted the river blue. #cubsparade pic.twitter.com/Dn88PR0UU0
— Alec Brzezinski (@brzezin_alec7) November 4, 2016
Once the bridge finally cleared, there was another surprise waiting on the other side: a massive statue depicting Abraham Lincoln handing an edition of the Gettysburg Address to a modern man.
Even Abe Lincoln got in on the celebration #cubsparade pic.twitter.com/kTYvYcjqRm
— Alec Brzezinski (@brzezin_alec7) November 4, 2016
Finally, as the end of the tour was in sight, Millennium Park was abuzz with Cubs fans celebrating near the Bean. The large glass statue is one of the staples of Chicago, and it was a popular gathering point Friday afternoon.
Cubs fans celebrate by the Bean pic.twitter.com/xRLKkrZ1EN
— Alec Brzezinski (@brzezin_alec7) November 4, 2016