One of the best parts of the parade(for us anyway) is the beer carts. In theory the beer cart leads the parade along a winding route through downtown past all of the shrines. The carts will stop by one and you are supposed to pay your respects and then toast a beer to the deceased. In reality the carts stop whenever the donkey wants and takes off again when you are next in line for a beer. How does the donkey know? Its a mystery.