The Big Balloon Parade Floats Through San Diego

The 20th annual Big Balloon Parade will float through San Diego's Harbor Drive Thursday morning. Up to 100,000 people are expected to line the parade route.

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The Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade will feature the panda balloon among many others in this year's Dec. 30 parade.

Courtesy of Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl

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Betty Boop will be one of the various balloons featured in the Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade Dec. 30.

Courtesy of Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl

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The Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade will take place Dec.30, featuring 22 balloons.

Courtesy of Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl

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Jay Jay the Jet Plane was one of the balloons featured in past parades.

Courtesy of Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl

The theme for this year's parade is "Let the Games Begin." San Diego native and former NBA star Bill Walton is the Grand Marshall.

As always, the giant balloons will be the main attraction. This year's lineup includes Betty Boop and Shamu the killer whale.

Port of San Diego spokeswoman Marguerite Elicone said it's not called America's largest balloon parade for nothing.

"It actually has more giant balloons than Macy's parade does," Elicone pointed out. "We have 22 balloons in the parade, and Macy's had about 15 this year at Thanksgiving."

Elicone said the show will go on rain or shine. Just before the parade starts, one thousand runners will compete in a 5K race on Harbor Drive.

Elicone recommended people who want to see the parade in person should get downtown well before the 10 a.m. start time.