Big Bay Balloon Parade set for Friday afternoon

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Some 30 giant inflatables towered over tens of thousands of visitors today who attended the 24th annual Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade along the downtown waterfront.

The parade was a prelude to Saturday’s 2014 National University Holiday Bowl game between the USC Trojans and the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers at Qualcomm Stadium at 5 p.m.

Sponsored by the Port of San Diego, the event was billed as ‘America’s Largest Balloon Parade’ because of the number of giant inflatables.

Meb Keflezighi, the Eritrean-born American long-distance runner, was grand marshal for this year’s parade themed “Forever Young.”

The parade included nine bands, including the USC Trojan and University of Nebraska Cornhusker marching bands, seven floats and several specialty units.

The parade ran south along Harbor Drive from the County Administration Building to the corner of Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway, near Seaport Village. Segments of Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway were closed for the parade starting at 12:45 p.m., and were reopened following its conclusion.

Many parade-goers watched the festivities from Waterfront Park at the County Administration Center, one of the best places to glimpse the procession of balloons.