EL PASO, Texas -- Dozens of people stayed up Thanksgiving Eve in order to guarantee a good spot for the First Light Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade.

Rain started to fall at 3:00 a.m. in Central El Paso, where the parade takes place.

Some of the 300,000 people expected for the parade showed up around midnight.

A few El Pasoans parked their vehicles to save a spot; others just camped out bringing air mattresses, flat screen televisions and food.

Alfonso Bolanos told KFOX he learned his lesson last year.

“Last year we had some bad weather and stuff. A little drizzle and the wind factor caught us off guard. This year well I’m prepared,” he said.

Bolanos brought a portable fireplace to keep warm.

The parade starts at 10:00 a.m. on Montana Avenue and North Ochoa Street and ends on Copia Street.