Whale of a Parade! Giant Balloons, Bands Delight Holiday Bowl Crowd – Dec. 30, 2015

From the Times of San Diego website

By Chris Stone

Thousands of spectators cheered under cool, sunny weather as big balloons, floats, bands and marchers added color and music to the San Diego Bay front Wednesday morning in the Holiday Bowl Parade along North Harbor Drive.

Military bands, “Star Wars” characters, lowrider vehicles carrying parade officials and the Balloon Platoon got big cheers from people lining both sides of North Harbor Drive during the 90-minute parade.

Bruce Binkowski, retired executive director of the San Diego Bowl Game Association, served as grand marshal of the 25th annual parade.

Binkowski was the Holiday Bowl’s first paid employee in 1978 and was executive director for the final 14 years before his retirement. The Poinsettia Bowl was created during his tenure, giving San Diego two college football postseason contests.

Older sports fans will remember him more directly as a radio sports reporter and public address announcer for the Chargers, Padres and San Diego State Aztecs.

The parade was preceded by the Wiener Nationals Championship Dachshund race, and a 5K run/walk. Around 100,000 spectators were expected to attend.

Whale of a Parade! Giant Balloons, Bands Delight Holiday Bowl Crowd