SAN CLEMENTE : 20,000 Are Expected at Military Parade

Up to 20,000 people are expected to attend a parade Saturday that kicks off the South Orange County Military Celebration to welcome home troops from the Persian Gulf War.

After the parade’s ticker-tape finale, the crowd is expected to gather at the beach around the San Clemente Pier for a barbecue.

A band from El Toro’s 3rd Marine Air Wing and 800 marching Marines from Camp Pendleton will lead the 68-entry parade. Participants include mayors from five South County cities, Supervisor Thomas F. Riley, U.S. Rep. Ron Packard (R-Oceanside) and state Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach).

Food and game booths will line the parade route, which runs along Avenida del Mar from El Camino Real to the pier. The parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and finish by noon, with the barbecue continuing until 3 p.m.

Avenida del Mar, portions of Avenida Granada and Avenida Victoria and some small streets in the pier bowl area will be closed Saturday morning. All streets are expected to reopen shortly after noon.

Free parking and a free shuttle bus to the parade and barbecue will operate from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at San Clemente High School on Avenida Pico. Drivers wishing to park at the high school should exit at Avenida Pico and drive east to the school.