national day

As usual, the festivities were more enjoyable for those who ventured out during the daytime, while commuters out and about at night complained about huge traffic backups.

Attendees began lining up for the 40-minute show as early as 5am – three hours before the main parade was scheduled to begin – to vie and cajole for coveted seats in one of a handful of stands, or for a courtside view behind barricades.