Welcome to what was heralded as the biggest event in Oklahoma City history... Unfortunately you're seeing it through my eyes, and I stood at the end of the parade route when apparently most of the big productions were over and done with... But we still got to see some great and cool stuff and people!

Despite the characteristic (and appropriate) Oklahoma wind roaring through downtown and some cloudiness and threat of severe weather, the parade "marched on."

Arrival...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140021.jpg

Lined up already

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140025.jpg

But I figured I had time for lunch and a stroll...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140032.jpg

Maywood Park Progress...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140033.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140034.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140037.jpg

This grassy area was nice

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140038.jpg

Flyovers! Made about 3 rounds I think.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140045.jpg

Crowded

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140046.jpg

I'm jealous of the great view that the residents of 5th Avenue Lofts had of the parade...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140055.jpg

Centennial Band high schoolers from across the state, they played in the Rose Bowl too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140058.jpg

Miss America Lauren Nelson

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140059.jpg

Governor Brad Henry... Probably the crowd favorite up to this point, but he would be showed up soon...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140061.jpg

Because OKC Mayor Mick was right behind him... People went crazy and he got into it... I think we like him.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140066.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140067.jpg

Native American Dancers

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140074.jpg

Latin Dancers

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140076.jpg

Black Gold

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140078.jpg

I didn't really understand this, but I thought it was hilarious... Llamas dressed up as oil companies... Haha. The best one was Sinclair, dressed like the dinosaur... too bad I didn't get a picture of him...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140079.jpg

The Pride of Oklahoma! Boomer Sooner!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140080.jpg

Rocketplane opened the space portion of the parade

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140087.jpg

Followed by some futuristic dancing girls and space junk and some famous astronauts from Oklahoma.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140089.jpg

James Garner

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140099.jpg

Jewel-encrusted buffalos that like to roam DT OKC.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140101.jpg

Will Rogers?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140107.jpg

Sometimes they would spin the floats, which was very entertaining.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140113.jpg

This guy was awesome

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140122.jpg

Square dancing?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140127.jpg

Shannon Miller... Which is kind of cool because there was also a gymnastics tournament going on downtown on this day.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140132.jpg

We do love our sports...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140136.jpg

And this rather strange presentation from the medical industry:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140139.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140140.jpg

Broken Arrow marching band was HUGE and very impressive.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140145.jpg

Eagle attempting to soar...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140149.jpg

You would think they would hold this a bit higher...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140155.jpg

Happy Birthday!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140159.jpg

Exodus

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140161.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140164.jpg

How would you feel about waiting at this bus stop?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140165.jpg

Okay this has nothing to do with the parade.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140167.jpg

Neither does this

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140172.jpg

OH, MY, GOSH (highlight of my day)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/Centennial%20Parade/PA140175.jpg

Neat parade. Ugly downtown.

^^yea im sure you've visited several times.

Oklahoma City was fortunate enough to boom -- really boom -- during the 20's, giving it one of the more impressive collections of art deco architecture in the US. Looks like there's plenty to celebrate in OKC. That parade looked fun!