A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/bloggers-unplugged/ AND in non-avoidance of NaNoPoblano 2015 https://rarasaur.wordpress.com/nanopoblano-2015.

Yes, the annual Christmas Parade.  The first of a few this year in Victoria.  Last night was the one that goes through Victoria itself.  Next week is both the Truck Parade, which starts nearby, but then head up through Oak Bay and then West of the city, as well as the Inner Harbour “boat parade”.  I think there is another one in Esquimalt sometime too.  We love our “parades” here in Victoria (and by parade, I mean mostly decorated cars and trucks, with a few dancers thrown in for the mix – a bit of a strange tradition for a city that spends a lot of time talking about the environment and emission standards).

Ah, but it’s not the season for sarcasm, is it.  And Kevin and I did stand in the freezing (for Victoria) cold last night so I could take pictures for y’all.  So, here you go!

This is on the way to the parade.  Assorted “floats” lined up waiting for the beginning.

Got to get a closeup of the big kahuna before he went off to the official float.

As we waited, we saw the strangest, and cutest, puppy we’ve ever seen.  Took a few looks to realize it was actually real!

And it began…

I was hoping superheros would be there.

But stormtroopers?    No Darth Vader though 🙁

Here are some of the cars and trucks lit up.

And buses

And horses

And trains

And boats

Nothing says Christmas parade like a marching band, and, of course, a bagpipe band.

And bicycles

Clowns

And pole walkers?

One float had a different kind of band on it.  One of them almost fell off when the truck lurched trying to turn the corner.

And, of course, lots of old friends, and new ones (and some I have never heard of before – PJ Mouse??)

Gotta say, I loved the beer truck, especially with the guy in a toque drinking a beer walking along beside it!

And here he comes!

Ok, we were freezing and left before Santa officially went on his way.  Shot these last two pics and then hurried home to a warm fireplace.  Will we venture out next week to the boat parade?  I’ll let you know then!