Epic Parade Recreation to Celebrate 30th Anniversary of ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ in Chicago

It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since Ferris Bueller, along with his girlfriend and best friend, skipped school to spend the day gallivanting around downtown Chicago. The classic film may have been released in 1986, but it still resonates with teenagers and adults all these years later.

Now, thanks to some super-fans, the movie is getting a fitting celebration to mark its anniversary with a three-day event called Ferris Fest that will take place in Chicago from May 20-22.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was written in less than a week by John Hughes, and was Hughes’ homage to the city that he loved so much.

“I really wanted to capture as much of Chicago as I could,” Hughes said about the movie, “not just the architecture and the landscape, but the spirit.”

That spirit will be captured at Ferris Fest, which will feature screenings of the movie, Q&As with the cast, tours of the filming locations, a 1986-themed dance party, and most notable of all, a recreation of the famous “Twist and Shout” parade in downtown Chicago.

Starting Friday, you can tour Ferris’ room, which is an immersive 360-degree recreation that will take place at the Virgin Hotels. Also on Friday is the 1986 Spring Dance at Shermer High School.

Bus tours on Saturday will take you through filming locations throughout Chicago and a screening that day will be followed by a Q&A with Cindy Pickett and Lyman Ward (Ferris’ parents), Edie McClurg (Grace), Jonathan Schmock (French restaurant maitre d’), and Larry “Flash” Jenkins (garage attendant who borrowed the Ferrari).

What’s sure to be the biggest event, though, is the “Twist and Shout” parade recreation that will take place from 3-4 p.m. in downtown Chicago on Saturday.

Sunday will have part two of the bus tour and another screening followed by a Q&A with some of the cast.

Throughout the whole weekend, you will be able to view rare memorabilia from the film’s original release, including “one of Ferris’ film-used jackets, worn by Matthew Broderick, along with storyboards, promotional items and other goodies you won’t want to miss,” according to the event’s website.

Ferris Fest is coming up pretty fast, so if you don’t stop and get tickets, you could miss it. But they aren’t cheap. Tickets for the event will run you $300 for an all-access ticket and $175 for Saturday and Sunday separately.

The event did pull together some pretty good promotional videos. Check out the one below and get pumped!