On Monday, Lester and I went alongside the San Diego Star Wars Society, the 501st Legion: San Diego Squad, and the Dented Helmet to the 2008 Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade held annually on Harbor Drive. Lester was volunteering to march and asked me if I wanted to volunteer as well as a wrangler and photographer. I actually ended up being a wrangler, runner, and photographer all at once, but hey! In the end, it was a great experience.
We arrived there at 7:15 AM since check-in time was 7:30 AM. However, the ticket dispenser machine at the lot we parked at malfunctioned and ceased to work! I and a bunch of other irate customers had to flag down a parking attendant to see if we could get an alternate way of getting our ticket voucher. We eventually received a voucher that we had to pay at the actual office (which was luckily across the street) whenever we were ready to get out of the lot.
After that whole fiasco, we met up with a Boba Fett (Gene) and a Snowtrooper (Barry). We tagged along with them for a while until the whole troupe came out from Seaport Village.
It was awesome because not only did we have Stormtroopers, but we had Mandalorians, Jedis, a Darth Vader, a Snowtrooper, a ship director, a Princess Leia, and a Chewie! Oh, and of course, a Shadow Trooper 
The Big Bay Balloon Parade is held every year on Harbor Drive in commemoration of the Pacific Line Holiday Bowl. This was my first time actually attending the event. I usually watch this on television after the game so this was an interesting experience for me. It’s definitely more amazing in real life than watching it on TV.
While waiting to march into the parade, many bystanders came in to take pictures with the members. I caught this lucky kid wearing Clone Trooper armor meekly standing next to a Stormtrooper. Poor kid ;_;
Felixx/Darth Vader and Clydesdales. When you’re off the Death Star, you need a pimpin’ ride to get around.
Snowtrooper parking sign. DO NOT PARK.
Mandos and a really cute girl ;_; <3
We finally got around to marching around 10 AM or so. They said it was a mile long, which didn’t seem that bad. Unfortunately, the weather warmed up and I started to sweat since I was wearing a tanktop, thermal, and shirt alongside a scarf! However, I didn’t complain. I’m not the one in costume
The Legion makes Jedis-in-training carry the banner lol
Hi-5s for everyone!
Chewie getting assaulted by the camera :O hahaha
The group was a total hit with the crowd. Kids went up to the front of the sides to give Stormtroopers and the like some high-5s. It was an adorable sight to see firsthand.
The 501st lookin’ fly.
Stormtroopers always get the ladies ;D
A ship director, Princess Leia, Chewie, and a pair of Jedis leading the front of the pack.
Everyone in for a group picture! It’s times like these when I wish I had a wide-angle lens.
All in all, it was a great experience to be at the frontlines of a nationwide parade taking pictures and witnessing the crowd’s reactions. This was a great way to end the year: marching it up with Star Wars characters.
If you want to check out more pictures, they’re all on my Flickr. You can also check out the footage from Channel 4 on Youtube here. The announcers fail at life, and that’s not even the real Kermit the Frog, but oh well. Things happen 
Stupid announcers.
Cheers to the new year, all!
Tags: 501st legion, big bay balloon parade, photo, Star Wars
@999hp
wow looks like fun. does trooping in San Diego always look so grand with so many troopers and other star wars characters?anyway does Lester collects 501st patches? I will love to trade my singapore garrison patch with his San Diego patch. ^^;let me know ya? my e-mail gordon008 [at] yahoo [dot] com [dot] sg
Hey Gordon! Trooping in San Diego isn’t usually this hyped up and grandiose. One major reason why there were so many people and so many smiles too was because after being involved in this parade years before, the organization who puts the parade together always asks us to come back. So because of popular demand we show up like the bad asses that we are and we Troop the hell out of the event!Anyway, I do collect patches but as of right now, I only have 1 SD patch. I’m in the planning stages to double what I currently have and would be happy to trade with you! My current patch listing is in my patch database on the 501st Forums. Your trooper brother,TX-3017 (Lester)
Sure Lester, I have looked through your list. I have Singapore Garrison Version 2 which you listed as want. let me know when you are ready to trade. Will love to have your Version 2. U can contact me via my blog or e-mail. ^^;Cheers,GordonTK8316Singapore Garrison
I’ve lived in SD for over 10 years and never knew there was a parade down by the bay until I read your post. I’ll definitely try to check it out next year.
@rishidan: Definitely check it out! I’ve heard from others that the best way to check out the parade is by using the trolley to get in, since the stop isn’t that far away. Hope you get to check it out the next time it rolls by!
[...] trickling in within the next half hour or so, so all was well. We saw some familiar faces from the Big Bay Balloon Parade and met even more people from the Southern California [...]