Big Bay Balloon Parade Marches Along San Diego Bay Waterfront

Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Contact: Dale Frost (619) 686-6222, (619) 686-6461

More than 100,000 spectators lined the downtown San Diego Bay waterfront to watch the Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade on December 28, 2011.

Along with 30 large balloon figures – more than any other parade – the event brings together marching bands, floats, and drill teams.

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"This is what we like to see, an active waterfront," said Board of Port Commissioners Chairman Scott Peters. He participated in the parade, riding in a red Mustang and waving to the crowd.

Vice Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners Lou Smith, and Port Commissioners Ann Moore and Robert "Dukie" Valderrama also participated.

The Port of San Diego is a sponsor of the parade, which is held in conjunction with the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl college football game, this year featuring the Texas Longhorns and University of California Berkeley Bears.

There were thousands of Longhorns and Bears fans along the parade route.

San Diego Harbor Police, the law enforcement arm of the Port, served as the Honor Guard for the parade.

The Port supports the event through its Marketing Sponsorship Program. The parade is one of many diverse events that helps activate the waterfront and bring tourism dollars to the region.

"The parade was fabulous," said Rita Flores, who came from Lockhart, Texas, to watch her son in the Longhorns marching band and to attend the football game.

She and her family also visited the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, the San Diego Zoo, La Jolla and Old Town.

"I'm impressed by the hospitality of the people in San Diego," said Flores. "Everyone is generous and helpful and has made us feel welcome."

UC Berkeley alumnus Guy Morrow and family – including daughter Kaia, who is now a student at Berkeley – also enjoyed the parade and plan to attend the football game and visit the San Diego Zoo before returning home to Albany, California.

"We'll be back to San Diego," said Morrow.

The Port of San Diego was created by the state Legislature in 1962. Since then, it has invested $1.7 billion in public improvements in its five member cities: Imperial Beach, San Diego, Coronado, Chula Vista and National City.

The Port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, two cruise ship terminals, 17 public parks, the Harbor Police Department and the leases of more than 600 tenant and sub tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.