The 2018 Holiday Bowl Parade headed down Harbor Drive the morning of New Year’s Eve. Chilly, drizzly weather couldn’t stop America’s Largest Balloon Parade!
It might’ve been a bit more chilly and breezy than usual for San Diego this New Year’s Eve morning, but the 2018 Holiday Bowl Parade was just as fun as ever!
The Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade, which proceeded down Harbor Drive along the Embarcadero, is billed as America’s Largest Balloon Parade. This year the parade featured the two college football teams that are competing in the 2018 Holiday Bowl: Northwestern University and the University of Utah. The big bowl game is kicking off right as I post these photographs!
Without further ado, here we go!
Before the Holiday Bowl Parade began, three cool old biplanes made a fly-by. Trailing smoke is a 1941 Boeing Stearman; the other two are Great Lakes.The Solar Turbines 5K run begins down Harbor Drive shortly before the parade.Northwestern University and University of Utah fans wore their colors up and down the parade route.Barricades are moved as the Holiday Bowl Parade is ready to begin!First up is WorldStrides on Stage. They will perform the halftime show at the Holiday Bowl football game in the afternoon.Another super fun Holiday Bowl Parade has begun!The San Diego Harbor Police Honor Guard helps to lead things off.Here comes Marine Band San Diego.The first balloon is cheerful Cheri the Octopus!And here comes Carter the Sea Turtle!San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts waves from the Wonderfront float. San Diego’s waterfront is indeed full of wonders!I wish I’d gotten a better pic of this funny group: The World-Famous Lawn Rangers! Their synchronized routine is so absurd you have to laugh out loud!Here come the Shawnee Mission North Marching Indians from Overland Park, Kansas.Pageantry and marching bands make any parade exciting!That big balloon swimming under the clouds is Louie the Blue Whale!And now I see good old Garfield! He’s giving somebody the thumbs up.These are the Norris High School Marching Titans from Firth, Nebraska!Next up is the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.Bob the Builder has either lost his balance or the breezy weather had gotten the better of the balloon’s handlers!Herencia Hispana comes down Harbor Drive wearing elaborate dresses and folk costumes!Beautifully swirling Mexican dresses delight the eye.Chinelos dancers were viewed with astonishment by many in the audience. It’s an unusual Mexican tradition popular in the state of Morelos.Danza del los Diablos. Looks like devilish fun!Another marching band! This one comes from Palo Verde Valley High School.Go Padres!That’s one gigantic, very happy Gingerbread Man! (Any relation to the friendly Stay Puft Marshmallow Man?)Many in the audience suddenly became excited. Who is that approaching?Here comes Northwestern University, one of the teams in the 2018 Holiday Bowl!Banners twirl proudly!Members of the Northwestern University Wildcat Marching Band thunder past!Willie the Northwestern mascot is up on the purple and white float with some cheerleaders!That’s one mighty big football!Members of Sports for Exceptional Athletes demonstrate their skill during the parade.Look! Here comes the University of Utah!The Utes also had a big contingent in the Holiday Bowl Parade.Swoop, the Utah mascot had a bit of trouble donning that Santa hat!The red and white Utah Utes float with smiling cheer squad passes by.The University of Utah Marching Utes all appear to be having a great time.More college football pageantry.Goodness! Here come even more balloons down Harbor Drive!It’s Hog Heaven!There’s no need to fear, Underdog is here! (My favorite.)And here is the Deer Valley High School Marching Band!Snowman is either tipping backward in the breezy weather or gradually melting.The San Diego State University Marching Aztecs precede Nicholas the Nutcracker!SDSU, a local university with a great sports history, marches with pride through downtown San Diego.The San Diego Star Wars Society is always a sure hit with young and old alike in any parade!Darth Vader says hello to someone watching the cool parade!A tiny TIE fighter and tiny Star Wars characters!Medieval fantasy follows futuristic fantasy. It’s Merlin the Wizard!Even more fun balloons! I see a San Diego Zoo Panda!It’s the beloved Very Hungry Caterpillar!It’s Mother Goose. (She must be taking a break from her big annual parade out in El Cajon.)More pageantry and excitement. It’s the Green Valley Marching Band!Yikes! Here comes the scariest Holiday Bowl Parade balloon of them all! Tessa the T-Rex!U.S. Naval Sea Cadets march past and receive many waves.The parade program calls this balloon entry Saxophone. It sure is a big one, though!The Bobcat Marching Band came to San Diego from Western Dubuque High School.During a break in the parade I turned my camera toward San Diego Bay and captured the nearby Star of India.From the world’s oldest active sailing ship to a space shuttle! This particular balloon Space Shuttle was taxiing down Harbor Drive on tiny wheels!You know these guys simply had to be in the parade. It’s the Al Bahr Shrine and their Tin Lizzies.Here come some Al Bahr Clowns.I had fun! Did you?
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It’s late in the year and I’m feeling lazy. Time to go through thousands of old photos, to see if there are any I can use!
While searching through my computer, I rediscovered a folder of photos taken from various spots on the Embarcadero around nightfall. Some of the images are fairly striking. Here they are!
When these photographs were taken, I don’t remember. During this summer, I believe.
You might recognize the Marriott Marina, the Donal Hord sculpture Morning, harbor tour ships that take on passengers near the Broadway Pier, and an aircraft carrier docked across San Diego Bay at North Island.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
As I walked along San Diego Bay in the Crescent area, just north of the Grape Street Pier, I noticed all sorts of wavy reflections and elongated shadows. Many photographs, when I cropped them, became weird and mysterious.
A mermaid might’ve crossed through one photograph, but I’ll let you decide…
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Back in the 1980’s, when I was a young and Seaport Village was new, my family would occasionally head downtown to enjoy the place. We’d stroll around the meandering pathways, poke our noses inside the specialty shops, browse the shelves of the cool bookstore, and enjoy lunch at one of several restaurants.
I was always intrigued by the big selection of magic tricks in the magic shop. At the candy store I’d shovel dozens of different sweets into a small bag, then eat them during the rest of our walk. We’d watch kites soaring in the blue San Diego sky at the nearby grassy park, and sailboats out on the bay. We always tried to catch Kazoo, the Seaport Village mime, performing.
On Sunday I walked through Seaport Village and was saddened to see many of the old shops are now vacant. The east half of Seaport Village almost resembles a ghost town.
Yes, there are plans to redevelop this valuable part of downtown’s bayfront, to make it more attractive and dynamic. Seaport San Diego will feature an observation tower, hotels, even an aquarium. But I’ve been told that future is somewhat uncertain and is still years away.
I’ve also been told that with this uncertain future and a recent change to the Seaport Village management, many shop owners have chosen not to renew their leases.
And yet today I saw hundreds of families happily walking about Seaport Village, visiting those shops and eateries that remain open. Such is the place’s reputation.
Over the decades Seaport Village has been the source of pleasure for millions of people.
But time and progress march on…
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
As I stood at the edge of San Diego Bay late Sunday afternoon, Californian returned across the water to its home at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Californian, official tall ship of the State of California, floated into a world of magical light.
Yesterday I had a chance to go aboard Polynesian canoe Hikianalia, which was offering tours to the public over the weekend. The traditional voyaging canoe will conclude its environmentally themed ocean journey and return to Hawaii later this month.
I added lots of cool photos with an update to my original post here!
It’s hard to believe this silly blog has now surpassed 3000 followers. Thank you for coming along on my walks!
Photo of traditional voyaging canoe Hikianalia docked at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, with the County Administration Building in the background.
Visitors to the Maritime Museum of San Diego are in for a special treat this weekend!
I noticed during my evening walk along the Embarcadero that the traditional voyaging canoe Hikianalia is visiting from Hawaii. And the public is invited to come aboard for tours!
The Hikianalia, of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, has sailed over 2800 miles across the Pacific Ocean and down the California coast. Crew members are engaging in cultural exchanges and spreading a positive environmental message at every port they visit. The amazing Hikianalia uses sustainable, Earth-friendly technology, including electric motors that are powered by onboard photovoltaic panels.
I hadn’t realized the Hikianalia had arrived a couple days ago, and that Mayor Kevin Faulconer declared October 30, “Hikianalia Day” in San Diego! The canoe’s crew members were greeted by representatives of the Kumeyaay Nation and welcome chants and hula from San Diego’s Hawaiian community.
To see photos of the Hikianalia’s arrival in San Diego and the colorful welcoming ceremony, click here.
After public canoe tours this weekend at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, the Hikianalia will prepare to return to Hawaii in mid-November.
Hikianalia is welcomed to San Diego during its California Voyage. The public can enjoy weekend tours of the technologically advanced Polynesian canoe at the Maritime Museum.Hikianalia docked on San Diego Bay near several historic vessels of the Maritime Museum.
UPDATE!
I stepped aboard the canoe on Sunday!
I learned from a crew member that the canoe primarily uses sail power, but will employ its solar-powered engines when coming into port.
Their ocean voyage has included some research and data collection, including analysis of the fish they catch. DNA is collected and each fish is checked to see whether it has eaten any plastic garbage.
The crew of Hikianalia has also transmitted their positive environmental message to students around the world, working with many schools.
Visitors check out the Hikianalia during its visit to San Diego.This cool dude up on the passenger deck of the Berkeley was playing mellow island music.
As we waited in line, a crew member told us about their current voyage down the California coast, and explained this map of an earlier ocean journey. Their next voyage will be around the Pacific Rim, including a visit to Alaska.Almost to the front of the line!Getting ready to board the Hikianalia.Lots of curious visitors were walking about the wooden deck of the Polynesian voyaging canoe.Everyone had to check out the huge oar-like rudder.Garlands of tropical flowers decorate the bow of Hikianalia.These friendly crew members selling t-shirts smiled for my camera!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Cool San Diego Sights! 