Another of several bands performed on the back of huge flatbed tractor-trailer trucks. Power from the truck provided for amplification and a loud beat.

One family watched the parade from the comfort of their apartment. Their building had received a fancy paint job because of a fish restaurant located below.

Xiuhcoatl Danza Azteca (Turquoise Serpent Dancers) affiliated with Santo Nino de Atocha and located in San Francisco, lead off the parade.

The smoke was part of the ceremony of Remedios / Mayahuel which heals the heart, spirit, mind, body and soul.

Love and hearts were the theme of Everett's world of love.

Marshall Elementary is a K-5 grade school located on 15th Street in the Mission District.

Every marching band needs a walking conductor. The band for Batucada Do Leste played music in the theme "O Mundo" (meaning "the world").

The kids who marched last wore shirts proclaiming the theme of Batucada Do Leste as "O Mundo" (meaning "the world").

The Columbian Soul Dance Company was founded by Adriana Sanchez Nieto and presents Traditional Colombian dance and music. Here their float was in the look of a traditional fishing boat.

Mission Cultural Center For Latino Arts featured one man dressed up to the maximum. The Center's offices, galleries, and classrooms are located in the heart of the Mission district on Mission Street.

The Mission Cultural Center For Latino Arts float was pulled by a truck made up to look like a face with big lips, glasses, and a pink wig that appeared to be a genuine rug.

The float featured a large live band that sang and played a great up-tempo Latin sound.

Edison Charter Academy of San Francisco was a K-8 State Charter Public School with 473 students located on 22nd Street. This year's theme was the disco dance.

Shades Of Spirit marched with smoke and hairy looking costumes.

The man wore mirrors for decoration and carried a thick hunk of smoking scented rope.

They made music using a variety of drums, gongs, and penny whistles.

Rhythm And Motion is a dance studio that is dedicated to the concept that "Anyone can dance." Here, one woman danced using a unicycle.

The Republica De Nicaragua contingent demonstrated that people of all ages and of all heights could march together.

Xelaju were named after a Guatemalan professional football club competing in the Liga Nacional, the country's top footballing division. Here they marched in costume and played drums.

Bank Of The West sponsored a low rider car with pneumatic lifters. This was just one of many custom cars each with a different sponsor.

Pachuco Califas Car Club exhibited a few cars in the parade, one of which was the stunning yellow car.

The marching band played traditional Bolivian music.

Samba Mundial is a non-profit group from Mountain View whose dancers and musicians perform traditional Brazilian and African-inspired dances and play Brazilian percussion instruments.

Many young children in strollers participated in the parade. Here was one young lad with Samba Mundial who knew how to travel in comfort and style.

The San Francisco Public Library's bookmobile was in the parade. Employees of the library marched in costumes taken from famous children's stories.

The costumes of Aquarela Samba Rio were lavishly over done.

Even the older members continued the lavish look.

A band paid tribute to the famed Tomi Seon of Trinidad.

Moving Beyond Productions, since 1998, has been providing cross-cultural arts education and performance, both in San Francisco and Internationally.

The parade began at the intersection of 24th Street and Bryant Street. Bicycle mounted police lead the parade. They stopped at each intersection and installed the barricades, then moved on in advance of the parade. Staging for the parade was on either side of 24th along Bryant.

MaraReggae stands for "Movimento Artistico com Respeito aos Ancestrais (Artistic Movement with Respect to the Ancestors). Its mission is to create artistic expression and community through Brazilian music, dance, capoeira, and song."

Loco Bloco, located on 18th Street in San Francisco, uses "arts as a tool for the empowerment of youth of color to overcome injustice..."

An (unidentified) marching band played conga drums.

Kids on stilts marched in costumes. Walking on stilts is becoming a growing trend among the young.

Sistas Wit Style's dance originated "from Trinidad and Tobago, two sister islands located in the Caribbean region just off the top of South America."

As it says on their website, "You don't have to join our classes to purchase any of our costumes!"

Armed with plastic spears, these dancers performed a war-like routine.

This cute girl road in the passenger seat and waved to the crowds lining the street.

Crazy wild dancers with targets on their top hats.

Fogo Na Roupa's band was heavy into a percussive beat.

Fogo Na Roupa demonstrated a martial arts form of dance.

The Cable Car Division of the San Francisco Municipal Railway appeared riding a fake cable car.

Julio Remelexo's percussive Brazilian music band.

A traditional Mexican Maypole.

One of the band members of Hot Pink Feathers performed on the trombone.

An interesting ballet with propeller-like hats resulted in a few almost taking flight.

A singer on the back of a float scan a wonderful Calypso song.

A dance of offerings of food.

The Pirates of Emerson arrived in a pirate ship float. Then they disembarked to frighten the crowds.

Their frightening poses proved to be a favorite with the children.

The parade ended with a sword fight in the street. Two pirates made realistic sounds with striking metal blades