The 2023 Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade returned to Pacific Highway on Wednesday, December 27, at 10 a.m. The annual spectacle featured giant balloons, marching bands, floats and more.
The parade precedes the 44th annual DIRECTV Holiday Bowl college football game (previously named after title sponsor San Diego County Credit Union).
Former San Diego State University basketball coach Steve Fisher, who built the Aztecs into a national powerhouse program, served as honorary chairmen of the parade.
Tens of thousands of people took part in the free parade and festivities.
Unlike last year, the parade returned to its traditional starting point: the County Administration Building. The route followed Pacific Highway and passed the USS Midway Museum before concluding at the intersection of North Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway.
The DIRECTV Holiday Bowl will be played downtown in East Village in a reconfigured Petco Park, home field for MLB’s San Diego Padres. The game will be televised nationally on FOX tonight at 5 p.m.
The game matches the University of Louisville Cardinals (10-3) of the Atlantic Coast Conference against the USC Trojans (7-5) of the Pac-12 Conference.
The first 10,000 fans entering the Petco Park gates will be given one-day SeaWorld San Diego tickets.
At the conclusion of the game, the 101.5 KGB Sky Show is scheduled to light up the airspace over Petco Park. Tickets for the Holiday Bowl are on sale now.
Below, check out San Diego Sun photographer San Giametta’s photo essay from the parade:
On the march! SDSun
