City scrambling to prepare for SF Giants parade

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- City workers will be working through the night to get ready for Wednesday's huge celebration. The parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at the foot of Market Street by Justin Herman Plaza; it will head straight up Market to Civic Center Plaza.

Crews must get everything into place including 3,500 feet of barricade, an orange carpet, video screens, and a stage for the band that will play at the end of the public speaking. All this has to happen in just two days.

"Usually, we have a little bit more time to plan but everybody came together with it. It'll happen," head carpenter Sean Wright told ABC7 News.

David Thomas is known as the master float builder. Now his reputation is being put to the test. With just 48 hours' notice, he and his workers have been rushing to build at least eight fabulous floats.

"The challenge is the parade is tomorrow; the parade is tomorrow and paint takes at least 24 hours to dry, we're more than nervous," Thomas said.

Billy Philadelphia got the call Monday that the Giants want him to play the calliope to entertain their fans while they wait for the parade to begin.

"You know there are a lot of piano players in San Francisco; I'm very grateful they called me, my stock has gone up with my wife and kids," he said.

The city expects up to a million fans to celebrate the amazing feat by the Giants. And just about every department is involved in trying to make it a success. At City Hall Tuesday, the mayor combined the year of the Giants with the year of the dragon in a gift to team President Larry Baer.

"This is a paper dragon that hosts a World Series baseball that represents the great fortune the Giants have brought to the city," Lee said.

Wednesday's celebration features a few changes from 2010. The route will be a straight shot down Market for better police enforcement and the players will not ride on trolley cars, instead each will have his own convertible.

And as those cars go along market, the Riordan High School band will march. They rehearsed their numbers Tuesday, including Party Rock Anthem.

"Right now the excitement around the school, everybody is jealous of the band right now," drum major AJ Triguerio said.

Wednesday is a school day but UC Hastings Law School has cancelled classes because of the parade. San Francisco schools, however, will be open. SFUSD Superintendent Richard A. Carranza released a statment saying in part, "Every day and every minute of instruction counts so we encourage families to make sure their child is in school and ready to learn."

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san francisco giants, ed lee, civic center, world series, san francisco news, carolyn tyler

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