CHICAGO — Chance the Rapper is giving away 30,000 free backpacks to Bud Billiken parade goers on Saturday, Aug 12th.

In a March post on Instagram, Chance said he was also "coordinating" the parade as its grand marshal.

"You know what that means. I'm putting it together," Chance said. "It means me and my friends gonna pull up, we gonna do some giveaways."

He later made an announcement on twitter sharing his plans to give out free backpacks.

@SocialWorks_Chi and @StateBags will be giving away thirty thousand (30,000) stuffed backpacks at the Bud Billiken & #BBBash on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/YXqp5weyPL

— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) August 9, 2017

The Bud Biliken Parade is the oldest and largest African American parade in the United States and is held to kick off the school year. The parade starts at Martin Luther King Drive and Oakwood Boulevard in the city's Bronzeville neighborhood and runs south on MLK Drive from about 39th Street to 55th Street. Chance doesn't seem to be giving too many details of his plans, but he is encouraging everyone to come and is hinting to having a few big surprises!

????TAKE ALL YOUR LIL COUSINS TO THE BUD CUZ THAT WHAT BIG COUSINS DO ????????— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) August 8, 2017

I got big plans

— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) August 8, 2017

This news has everyone on Twitter leaving promises that they're showing up! So get there early if you're planning to stop by!! Shout out to Chance for bringing so much light and excitement to the south side of Chicago and to the legendary Bud Billiken Parade!

So I gotta work Saturday but I really wanna go to the bud parade cause I wanna see @chancetherapper so guess who calling off ???? pic.twitter.com/BUXQBGhyqh

— Cafè Au Lait (@CocoMacchiato) August 9, 2017

Man these are nice bags…get to the Bud this weekend folks! https://t.co/Gc8RRv94B2

— Diona Donelson (@DionaDonelson) August 9, 2017

The Bud going to crack this year!! I haven been since 6th grade

— Notorious (@_BIGAshh) August 10, 2017

Everybody popping out to the bud this year ???????? I haven't heard ppl talking about the bud like this in a long time thank you @chancetherapper

— ♻️ (@JazYouFunny2) August 10, 2017

Probably the strongest possibility ever https://t.co/B0BdQq2eUg

— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) August 10, 2017

The parade kicks off 10 a.m. Saturday at Oakwood Boulevard and King Drive. It ends at Garfield Boulevard and Elsworth Drive. Show up if you're in the Chicagoland area to find out what the remaining surprise is! We're curious! We know you are too. …and let's be honest, if Chance is putting it together, we're sure it's going to be good! Just get there early!

Tamara Young

Writing since April 2017 · 1 story contributed