The event featured political speeches, including a keynote by Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt, church, school and civic group floats, a handful of preachers protesting and a man dressed like Jesus wheeling a cross through the crowd.

A Marilyn Monroe drag queen on stilits led the procession down Main Street as it headed down Broad and back on Ninth Street.

Here are a few scenes from the event. You can see more under the Local News photo galleries at newsobserver.com