This is one of those good news bad news stories. After 2007 the parade committee ran out of funding so there was to be no 2008 parade and I stopped checking. As you'll see from the pictures below the parade demonstrated huge support from the Austin community and I was very sad to see it pass. As I write these pages I try to find links for you to get additional information and I discovered there have been additional parades I missed by not keeping track. Currently there is one scheduled in 2017 and as we planed to winter in Texas again this year but unfortunately Harvey intruded.
And no this is not even close to all the pictures I took of the parade but only the 20% that were my special favorites and enough to show the wide variety of community groups involved. I'm really glad to discover that the parade is not actually gone forever like so many wonderful attractions and I want to add another.
First Night or I should probably say last night since it is New Year's Eve is another of those wonderful celebrations that are just to good to last. They had one we missed in 2005, this one in 2006, a final one in 2007 and then ran out of funding. Few people realize the underlying cost of a major production like this. Reports from the committee claimed over half a million minimum and closer to three quarters is needed. A big part of that gets sucked up just in advertising with small ads in the paper running into 5 figures. Add in police, permits, cleanup, blocking streets and you start to get into real money.
After checking out one of the parade leaders, also check out the spectators. Almost all my reports for 2006 have complained about the heat but late at night on December 31 it was COLD.
The flame juggler seem to have a better idea for keeping warm. As you can see they do an excellent job keeping to the motto Keep Austin Weird.
This is also the main University of Texas campus and the any excuse for a party mentality.
While many of the costumes were quite elaborate, the emphasis seems to be on human-powered floats. Sort of fits into the whole green econut theme and mindset.
At this time our grand-daughter was fascinated by giraffes so I really needed a picture of one riding a bicycle. I was also very impressed with these elegant ladies.
After the flame juggler I think the mouse is my favorite in the parade. As a finale for the 2006 parade this group from SOAR
seems to typify the whole nature of the parade as just a lot of fun. When I get to the end of next year there will be more from the 2007 parade.