A day after multiple shootings occurred in the hours after Chicago’s Christmas tree was illuminated, beefed-up police presence was observed in downtown.

Another unofficial kickoff to the holiday season was observed on Saturday night, as the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade stepped off on one of the city’s most iconic stretches of road, just a day after multiple shootings stunned residents and tourists.

Families staked out spots along the Magnificent Mile throughout the day Saturday for one of the largest holiday parades in the country, and hundreds of additional police officers were deployed to keep revelers safe.

As of Saturday evening there were no reports of violence or arrests in downtown, but it was a far different scene Friday after multiple shootings were reported.

In on

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