#BransonsDayOff: Richard Branson Impersonates Ferris Bueller In Massive Chicago Parade

Richard Branson, billionaire founder of Virgin Group and backer of Virgin America Inc (NASDAQ: VA), played hooky in Chicago on Thursday.

In an elaborate homage to the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Branson partied in a massive Chicago parade outside the Virgin Hotels Chicago building in the city's Loop. Thankfully, Twitter captured the action.

It Started With A Tweet

Hey, #Chicago. Take your lunch break outside on Thursday. Meet us at the corner of Lake and Wabash at 12:15pm sharp. #BransonsDayOff

— Virgin Hotel Chicago (@virginhotelschi) April 14, 2015

And Another

What are we going to do? The question is, what aren't we going to do? #Chicago, meet us outside the hotel tomorrow. 12:15pm. #BransonsDayOff

— Virgin Hotel Chicago (@virginhotelschi) April 15, 2015

And Then Today Happened

Today's the day. #BransonsDayOff.

— Virgin Hotel Chicago (@virginhotelschi) April 16, 2015

Went to a @chicagobulls game. Got shot out of a human slingshot #bransonsdayoff http://t.co/JULfqxAXig pic.twitter.com/YhOEQ40La1

— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) April 16, 2015

Chicago, come play hooky with us… Meet us outside @virginhotelschi at 12.15pm http://t.co/JULfqxAXig #bransonsdayoff pic.twitter.com/s55AY3efvV

— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) April 16, 2015

He Danced...And Everyone Waited

Hope you've got your dancing shoes ready, Chicago http://t.co/JULfqxAXig #bransonsdayoff @virginhotelschi pic.twitter.com/c9nHNK7ra6

— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) April 16, 2015

It's #BransonsDayOff today! @virginhotelschi #chicago Huge Crowd! @ChooseChicago pic.twitter.com/60uwqUaf31

— Coalition: Energy (@coalitionChi) April 16, 2015

Waiting for @richardbranson. #bransonsdayoff pic.twitter.com/smM3rwMnl5

— Michael P. Hill (@michaelphill) April 16, 2015

Oh boy @virginhotelschi its #BransonsDayOff and it's shut down Lake and Wabash! pic.twitter.com/NAlUKSnigl

— Krista D. Krauss (@KristaD14) April 16, 2015

Then It Happened

Oh boy @virginhotelschi its #BransonsDayOff and it's shut down Lake and Wabash! pic.twitter.com/NAlUKSnigl

— Krista D. Krauss (@KristaD14) April 16, 2015

Hello @richardbranson. @virginhotelschi #BransonsDayOff pic.twitter.com/Dgl6V9EJtb

— Dillon Goodson (@DillonGoodson) April 16, 2015

Ferris would approve @virginhotelschi #BransonsDayOff pic.twitter.com/zuE8fGwUi8

— Sarah Turner (@sarahturner) April 16, 2015

Because Richard Branson dancing on top of a car is the Chicago way #BransonsDayOff pic.twitter.com/lU0JsrJpuy

— SKOOG Productions (@SkoogProd) April 16, 2015

That's @virginhotelschi officially open then, @richardbranson #BransonsDayOff pic.twitter.com/tOeY8F3B6G

— VHols_Press (@VHols_Press) April 16, 2015

Welcome to town @richardbranson @virginchicago! #BransonsDayOff pic.twitter.com/KnMD9WZVKh

— Rana Lee (@TotallyRana) April 16, 2015

Hanging out with Sir Richard. #BransonsDayOff #PRgenius #FUN! @VirginHotels @VirginHotelsChi @VirginChicago http://t.co/rRexlp6QoO

— Nicole (@NikAroundChi) April 16, 2015

Richard Branson doing a Ferris Bueller style publicly stunt in front of his new hotel in Chicago #BransonsDayOff pic.twitter.com/JF0fAguLhh

— Steve Rabeor (@steverabeor1) April 16, 2015

The Promotion Appeared To Pay Off

@richardbranson smelling my hair #BransonsDayOff #virginairlines pic.twitter.com/KjHPtCHDzT

— Anip Patel (@AnipPatel) April 16, 2015

And this is why We ❤️ this guy #BransonsDayOff virginhotels @virginhotelschi @richardbranson @ Virgin… https://t.co/NrwUMrgdac

— Kind Traveler (@Kind_Traveler) April 16, 2015