Bruce Binkowski, the retired executive director of the San Diego Bowl Game Association, will serve as grand marshal of the 25th annual Holiday Bowl Parade Wednesday morning.
The parade, which features numerous giant character balloons, is scheduled to step off at 10 a.m. along North Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego.
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 will be preceded at 9:30 a.m. by the Wiener Nationals Championship Dachshund race, and at 9:45 a.m. by a 5K run/walk. Around 100,000 spectators are expected to attend, according to the Holiday Bowl.
The Metropolitan Transit System announced that it would add Green Line trolley runs between Mission Valley and downtown beginning at 8 a.m. and after the parade, as needed.
