This is a balloon waiting to navigate low-hanging street fixtures, where San Jacinto and Eleventh Street intersect. Other balloons, along with many live participants in Chuy’s parade today may be viewed in still photographs and brief videos.

We enjoyed seeing dancers, balloons, and floats, and hearing music from such Austin favorites as Los Texas Wranglers, the Biscuit Brothers, pipers, the Travis and Anderson high school bands, and many more. Among notables participating were Rhoda Mae Kerr, our fire chief, and radio and TV personality Fred Cantu.

This parade is to benefit Operation Blue Santa, and anyone who missed today’s jolly event will find that there are still plenty of ways to be helpful in the time that remains: dropping off toys, volunteering personal assistance, or just plain donating money.