The parade kicks off at 8 p.m. from Buccaneer Stadium on Leopard Street and ends at Memorial Coliseum. The Chavez family expects about 45 friends and relatives to join them by Saturday afternoon so they came prepared with benches, lawn chairs and blankets. The couple even rents a portable restroom, something that seems to be very popular among parade goers. We are so swamped. Flores said this weekend is a busy one for the company, with Cinco de Mayo festivals going on in the area, but that the parade has had a definite impact.
Parking also is a big business on parade day.
Employees began taking reservations more than a month ago and were surprised they still had six spaces left on Thursday afternoon. They didn't expect them to last very long. Janie Chavez said she looks forward to rooting on her favorite bands and watching the floats go by. She and her family compete over which band is the best. She said she's loyal to the Miller High School Show Band because that is where her children attended school.