Christmas Parade in Los Angeles

What is the Parade?

The Hollywood Christmas Parade has been held annually for nearly 90 years on the weekend after Thanksgiving in late November. The 3.5-mile route runs along Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards and has always featured numerous celebrities among its participants.

Brief History of the Parade

Inspired by the success of Thanksgiving parades and Christmas celebrations in downtown Los Angeles, Colonel Harry Baine came up with the brilliant idea in 1928 to capitalize on promoting holiday gift sales along the famous Hollywood Boulevard. For the first parade, Baine convinced actress Jeanette Loff to ride with Santa in a reindeer-drawn sleigh along the boulevard.

The parade was paused from 1942 to 1944 due to World War II but resumed in 1945 with record attendance and continued to grow from the 1950s through the 1970s, adding floats, animals, and celebrities. In 1978, the event was renamed the Hollywood Christmas Parade to attract more celebrities, and it began airing on television. In 2007, the parade was at risk of being canceled, but the city of Los Angeles sponsored it, allowing the event to continue.

What to Expect at the Christmas Parade

• The parade features balloons, floats, marching bands, celebrities, and special guest appearances by Santa at the end of each show.
• Grandstand seats can be purchased for $45-85, depending on how close you want to sit.
• Discounts are available for groups of 25 or more people. Free seating is also available along the parade route.
• A pre-parade concert for ticket holders begins at 5:00 PM, and the parade itself starts at 6:00 PM.
• Early birds can catch a glimpse of the LAPD motorcycle brigade performing their fancy tricks and bright sirens about 20 minutes before the parade begins.
• Since it can be quite chilly outside at this time, don’t forget to bring snacks and a thermos with something warm like hot chocolate, cider, or soup.
• Parking is limited during the Hollywood Christmas Parade, so it is recommended to find a spot in a public parking lot such as the Hollywood and Highland complex.

Interesting Facts

• When Gene Autry participated in the 1946 parade, he heard children shouting, “Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus,” which inspired him to write the popular Christmas song.
• In the 1951 film "Hollywood Story," where a film producer investigates a Hollywood scandal threatening his life, one scene was shot during the parade in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
• In 1956, firefighters deemed the wiring in the electrified Christmas trees unsafe, and the decorations along the boulevard were turned off.
• To get into the holiday spirit, Patricia Howard, a three-time winner of the National Gingerbread House Competition, spent over 300 hours creating a 5-foot house in the lobby of the Hollywood Odditorium. This is one of the festival’s traditions.