Encinitas Holiday Parade Theme Announced

You might see a lot of acid-washed denim and parachute pants at this year’s holiday parade. In celebration of Encinitas’ 25^th anniversary, participants are being encouraged to sport clothes from 1986, the year the city was incorporated.

Whoever has the best retro getup will walk away with the coveted title, “Best Representation of the Year 1986.” The theme, Encinitas 25-Celebrating Our Beginning, also includes a category for “Best Representation of Community” (New Encinitas, Old Encinitas, Cardiff, Leucadia, and Olivenhain).

The festivities will kickoff Saturday, Dec. 3, with a 5 p.m. tree-lighting ceremony at the Lumberyard (near Starbucks) followed by the 5:30 parade down Coast Highway 101, which will be lead by Grand Marshal Don Hansen.

Hansen is a longtime Encinitas icon who started his world-famous shop in Oahu in 1961 and moved it to Cardiff in 1962.

“Encinitas is still the best little beach town on the West Coast,” Hansen said. “I’m honored to be Grand Marshal. The parade is great for the community. It gets better every year.” 

“[This] has been an eventful year,” said Recreation Supervisor Nick Buck. “Wrapping it up with the one of the community’s most popular events is a great way to celebrate everything that Encinitas represents.”

About 100 applicants are expected for this year’s event. Parade entry applications can be picked up at the Encinitas Parks and Recreation office, Encinitas Community Center or on the City’s website at www.EncinitasParksandRec.com.  For additional information call (760) 633-2740.

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