With the temperature matching her age of 91, Wanda Boyce, dressed as a clown, spryly walked El Cajon Boulevard on Saturday — wishing happy Halloween to thousands at the mile-long BOO! Parade.

Buddy the clown, aka Wanda Boyce, 91, wishes "Happy Halloween" to people along the parade route. Photo by Chris Stone
Buddy the clown, aka Wanda Boyce, 91, wishes “Happy Halloween” to people along the parade route. Photo by Chris Stone

So it went for the 11th annual College Area gathering, billing itself as the only Halloween parade in San Diego. There’s no age limit on fun.

The weekend hot spell didn’t deter children and adults from wearing their Halloween costumes. Many found cooler temperatures in the shade of stores along the route. The event featured school bands, floats, dancers and Scouting and church groups.

Children, excited about the prospect of candy, held out bags and buckets for treats.

Bringing the most applause and cheers was the lowrider San Diego Police Department cruiser. People cheered as the car lurched up and down and on an angle.

San Diego Councilwoman Marti Emerald was the grand marshal.

Thousands of people lined El Cajon Boulevard for the Boo! Parade. Photo by Chris Stone
Thousands of people lined El Cajon Boulevard for the Boo! Parade. Photo by Chris Stone

Many in the neighborhood were newcomers to the parade; others have made this a tradition.

“We’re here every year,” said Dora Myrick, who along with her husband, Al, spoke with fondness of the gathering.

“The parade is cute, like a community thing,” Myrick said. She recalls when it was “smallish” in the past, but it’s “bigger and better every year,” she said.

“It’s a tight-knit community,” Al Myrick said. “Most of our neighbors are out here. It’s quite nice.”

Dora would like to see more horses in the parade, however.

Sarrah Axelson brought her 3-month-old son and 3-year-old daughter. She said, “I like the variety, and it’s so family friendly.”

Axelson said they moved out of the neighborhood, but still return for the parade each year.

Seventy units entered the 1½-hour parade, hosted by the nonprofit College Area Business District. The event was followed by the AfterBOO! Carnival at College Avenue Baptist Church.

A young boy dressed as a firefighter waits for candy at the Boulevard BOO! Parade, San Diego’s only Halloween Parade on El Cajon Boulevard.
Featheringill Mortuary has a spooky entry. Thousands of people lined El Cajon Boulevard for the BOO! Parade. Photo by Chris Stone
A U.S. Marine Corps Band entertained the spectators at the BOO! Parade. Thousands of people lined El Cajon Boulevard for the Boo Parade. Photo by Chris Stone
Thousands of people lined El Cajon Boulevard for the BOO! Parade. Photo by Chris Stone
Thousands of people lined El Cajon Boulevard for the BOO! Parade. Photo by Chris Stone
An entry from the San Diego Model A Club is decorated for Halloween. Photo by Chris Stone
A dog watches the parade from the comfort of its carrier. Photo by Chris Stone
California Scholarship Pageant Junior Miss 4S Ranch adjusts the crown of Junior Miss North Coast. Photo by Chris Stone
The SDPD lowrider cruiser was a crowd favorite. Photo by Chris Stone
A young child and his mother watch the parade along El Cajon Boulevard. Photo by Chris Stone
Griselda Bautista enjoys the parade with her family. Photo by Chris Stone
A young parade-goer waits for bands and candy. Photo by Chris Stone
Students from Sn Diego State University ride their pumpkin patch float. Photo by Chris Stone
Buddy the Clown, aka Wanda Boyce, 91, wishes “Happy Halloween” to people along the parade route. Photo by Chris Stone
Parade-goers enjoy the shark-eating-the-man costume. Photo by Chris Stone
A Ghostbuster hands out candy to children along El Cajon Boulevard. Photo by Chris Stone
A trombone player from Monte Vista High School is in the Halloween spirit. Photo by Chris Stone
A Batman-dressed police officer greets parade-goers along El Cajon Boulevard. Photo by Chris Stone
A member of the Al Bahr parade unit greets young children along El Cajon Boulevard. Photo by Chris Stone
Captain America from the Red Door Church spots a child Captain America in the crowd. Photo by Chris Stone
Monsters greet children and parents along the Boulevard BOO! Parade. Photo by Chris Stone
A member of the Morse High School color guard grins as she makes her way down the street. Photo by Chris Stone
Councilwoman Marti Emerald was the Boulevard BOO! Parade’s grand marshal. Photo by Chris Stone
San Diego firemen toss candy to children along the BOO! parade route. Photo by Chris Stone
Nathan, 4, holds a Boulevard BOO! bag to collect candy as a school band passes. Photo by Chris Stone
Children check their Halloween bags to see what candy a member of Red Door Church gave them. Photo by Chris Stone
Wizard of Oz characters twins Konner and Kolten Traylor, 3, get ready to collect candy at the BOO! Parade. Photo by Chris Stone
The 11th annual Boulevard BOO! Parade attracts thousands of children and parents, many in costumes. Photo by Chris Stone
Members of Sherry’s Gotta Dance Drill Team perform for the crowd in the BOO! Parade. Photo by Chris Stone
Members of Girl Scout Troop 4159 greet families along the parade route. Photo by Chris Stone