CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicagoans celebrated Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day Monday.

Downtown Chicago, the 73rd annual Christopher Columbus Day parade stepped off at noon. It celebrated Chicago’s Italian American heritage.

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ABC7 Chicago provided live coverage of the event, capturing the vibrant procession as it wound its way past the station’s studio on State Street. The parade featured a colorful array of performers and floats, each showcasing the deep-rooted Italian American traditions cherished in the Chicago area.

For many attendees, the parade was more than just a spectacle. “It’s camaraderie, meeting people you’ve never known. And it’s a lot of fun,” expressed Nancy Rogers, capturing the essence of community and joy that such events bring to the city.

“It’s comradery, meeting people you’ve never know. And it’s a lot of fun,” Nancy Rogers said.

Greg Dutra, Ryan Chiaverini and Tanja Babich hosted ABC7’s coverage.

“You’ll notice all our banners. It’s our members and their heritage, their grandparents to how they came to this country and made a way of life,” said Jay Roti, with the Will County Italian American Association.

“It just brings us back to our children and our roots, since we are not longer in the city, just brings us back together,” Antonella Lapore said.

Watch the rest of the parade below

Before the parade was a Mass at Old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

“It represents the strife, the challenges that faced our people, the Italian people that came to this great country to make a name for themselves,” said Ron Onesti, with the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans.

Others in Chicago celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day Monday to honor those who settled in the U.S. first, as they recognize the explorer’s ties to the mistreatment of indigenous people.