I just want to let you all know, the first parade is PACKED w/people. This is why we ride and tour while it is going on. We can get a ton of stuff done while everyone is standing around. The second parade is easy to walk up to right before it starts.
So, you may want to move the meet to at least 1-1.5 hours before the first parade, so you have room for the group to meet w/o fighting the people who lined up for the parade 1-2 hours before you. Or maybe meet right after the parade when the people clear out. I think the area in question will be very full by 30 minutes out.
This is just my experience w/the parade from last year.
I will try to pop by to say hi whenever the meet is though.