The Honolulu Festival's Grand Parade will begin today at 4:40 p.m. near the intersection of Kalakaua Avenue and Saratoga Road and will conclude at the Honolulu Zoo around 8 p.m.

Parade director Nelson Fujio said some 6,000 people will be involved in the parade, which will feature 112 units, including marching bands, dance performers and illuminated Neputa floats from Japan, Hawai'i, the U.S. Mainland and around the Pacific.

"Every single parade event we've had has been different," said Fujio, who is easy to spot because his shirt reads "Parade Guy."

"The highlight this year is the fire-spitting dragon Daijayama."

Following a two-year hiatus, the 20-foot-high dragon has returned, along with around 200 handlers who accompany it.

"It's a float," Fujio said. "There's the head of a dragon, and the tail of a dragon, and in between is a little house, and inside there are taiko drummers and people playing music. And there are guys up on the roof shooting off fireworks. Oh, yes — it's spectacular."

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.