SAN DIEGO -- Bruce Binkowski, the retired executive director of the San Diego Bowl Game Association, served as grand marshal of the 25th annual Holiday Bowl Parade Wednesday morning.
The parade, which features numerous giant character balloons, kicked off at 10 a.m. along North Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego.
The following roads were beginning at 7:45 a.m. Click here for the parade route. They were expected to reopen by noon.
-- Harbor Drive from Grape to Broadway
-- Pacific Highway (one southbound lane) from Grape to Ash
-- Pacific Highway from Harbor to Broadway
-- Harbor Drive from Broadway to Pacific Highway
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 was preceded at 9:30 a.m. by the Wiener Nationals Championship Dachshund race, and at 9:45 a.m. by a 5K run/walk. An estimated 100,000 spectators attended, according to the Holiday Bowl.
The Metropolitan Transit System added Green Line trolley runs between Mission Valley and downtown beginning at 8 a.m. and after the parade.
Kickoff for the Holiday Bowl between USC and Wisconsin at Qualcomm Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The game will air on ESPN.
