Macy's Holiday Parade in Seattle

Once again, the GF and I got up at 7:30 AM the day after Thanksgiving. We didn't line up for the sales (I've served my time in retail). We got up for the annual Holiday parade in Seattle.

Sometimes I wonder why. It doesn't change much from one year to the next. And I'm still busy digesting dinner from the day before. More sleep would be nice. But I can't stay away. And so once again we made the treck a few blocks downtown to see high school students in short skirts, or holding their lips to large metal objects, plush sheep dogs, people in silly costumes, and unicyclists as they wandered the streets of Seattle in an organzied fashion.

And we waited to get hit in the face with thrown candy.

Here's what we saw.

It starts off quietly enough with someone catching up with the local cops. Actually, it stayed relatively quiet throughout the parade this year. It was quite as rambunctious as in years past.

These folks had the right idea for viewing the parade:

The crowds at Westlake did gradually build.

It wouldn't be a Holiday without a decorated tuba.

Of course, it helps when you have presents.

For the Gingerbread Village, people dress up as candy.

Who sponsors this wonderful collection of giant surgary treats? Why the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, course.

I'm not sure if that is funny, ironic, or just a good idea. How often do Diabetes related organizations celebrate sugary sweets?

The Connect Call Stars was one of several groups highlighting their people hoisting skills.

In prior years, the area's dignitaries would ride along the parade route in convertibles, and wave to the people. This year, they had to walk. Here is Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske:

And here, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels joins Seattle Fire Chief Gregory Dean.

Not all local dignitaries had to hoof it, however.

Doppler, the mascot for the local WNBA team, the Seattle Storm, got ot rid in a car.

The Mariner Moose and the Seahawk's Seahawk, were not so lucky.

Here is a very hungry inflatable dog.

While no one dropped turkeys from a helicopter, candy did start raining down on the crowds. But it didn't come from the sky.

Instead the candy that came crashing down over the crowds and splattering on the pavement -- like recent home sales figures and prices came from Quadrant Homes.

I just hope the homes the build for sales are better than the home they build for the parade.

The Scotty dogs put in an appearance.

A dachshund wanted to join them. I think they talked him out of it.

This dog is hard core. He needs two leashes.

Later on, we got to see the English Sheep Dogs.

The dachshund wanted to join them, too.

The dalmatians were also part of the parade.

The only cat in the parade was inflatable.

Representatives from the local ballet showed off some of their moves.

Is this the latest innovation in marching band technology? I don't think I've see an arm mounted music holder before.

In the distance we saw some umbrellas and assumed this was one of Seattle's ethnic groups marching in the parade. Wew figured it would be the Filipino-American group or a Chinese-American group.

As they got closer, we realized we were probably mistaken.

It turns out the group was actually dressed up as Poinsettias.

Naturally, the parade also featured the Pie Man.



Oops. Sorry. Wrong pie man.

The parade featured, as the GF put it, the Sweeny Todd version -- people were in the pies.

There is also a Unicycle group in the area. The riders do a variety of tricks. Can you tell this guy is really confident in his friend's abilities?

As the candy throwers and blushing marching bands move on, the parade leapt towards it's climactic finish.

The Macy's group itself approached, and, as the Bon Marche had done for years ine past, they began tossing not candy canes, and not ordinary chocolate, but Frango candies.

People got up and crowed the curb for their chance to catch one of these precious treat. All of a sudden a woman behind us said to her companion, "You know, we can just BUY Frangos."

A few people thought that was pretty funny.

But the crowds pressed forward and the Global Warming Ary marched down the street.

They were, of course, ably commanded by the terrifying Snow Queen (DO NOT LET HER OUT OF HER GLASS PRISON -- SEATTLE WILL BE BURIED).

Since it is a Holiday parade, it must of course be wrapped up with Santa Claus.

And keeping everyone up to date on the parade were Seattle favorites Dennis Bounds and Lori Matsukawa.

Every year, the parade concludes with a snowstorm in front of Macy's.

And here is Seattle's Snow Man.

You can see more of my parade pictures here.