Balloon Inflation Party Rocks Stamford, Previews Parade

STAMFORD, Conn. – Giant inflatable floats, Popeye and other revered cartoon characters, hip hop dancers and BMX daredevil bicyclists gathered at Hoyt and Summer streets Saturday afternoon for the Giant Balloon Inflation Party, which is the kick-off event to Sunday’s UBS Parade Spectacular.

Parade floats at the Giant Balloon Inflation Party will appear in Sunday's UBS Parade Spectacular.
Photo Credit: *Ken Liebeskind*

Popeye and other cartoon figures made appearances at Saturday's parade preview in Stamford.
Photo Credit: *Ken Liebeskind*

A BMX bike rider from Perfection on Wheels performed in Stamford before the balloons were inflated.
Photo Credit: *Ken Liebeskind*

by Ken Liebeskind

11/17/2012 6:00 p.m.

Hundreds of residents gathered for Saturday’s event, which started with the BMX bicyclists who flipped over ramps to the cheers of the crowd. At 3 p.m., the floats that will appear in Sunday’s parade were inflated, followed by a show that featured hip hop and other dance groups.

The party previewed the 19th annual UBS parade that begins Sunday at noon at Hoyt and Summer streets before proceeding down Broad and Atlantic streets to North State.

Last year’s parade drew more than 100,000 people from Stamford and beyond.

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