Let the Festivities Begin! The Christmas Parade is Here!

The twinkling lights can go up, the stockings can be hung, the eggnog can flow, but the holidays don’t begin until thousands of students, athletes, scouts and community members march down Main Street to usher in the season of cheer.

The 33^nd annual Christmas Parade, the largest event of the year in Seal Beach, is finally here.

The parade begins at 7 p.m. Friday and will feature more than 100 groups from the Seal Beach Lions Club to the Los Alamitos High School Dance Team to this year’s Little League World Series Champions, Ocean view Little League.

“This year’s parade includes some exciting enhancements including having Four Parade Announcers along Main Street, additional lighting along the parade route, and a continuous motion format that will provide more entertainment along the entire parade route in a shorter amount of time,” said Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce Member and parade volunteer Seth Eaker.

This year’s grand marshals will be local environmentalists and volunteers Kim and Steve Masoner, founders of the nonprofit Save Our Beach. Eaker, Los Alamitos High School Teacher Scott Durzo, Rick Paap and Jo Dawson will act as four masters of ceremonies stationed up and down Main Street to announce the parade.

A portion of Pacific Coast Highway will also be closed for the first time so that this year’s parade can flow continuously, said Eaker.

Since the parade’s inception in 1979, scouts and community groups from Rossmoor, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and surrounding areas have marched in the parade, marked my live music and dancing. Following the parade, Santa will head to Seacoast Grace Church on Electric Avenue to visit with kids.

Compiled by Seth Eaker

• First parade in 1979 had 23 entries. They went up and down Main Street twice.
• Only 4 People have chaired the parade: Tom Rose – Jim Klisanin – Ann Tuler - Scott Newton
• Jim Klisanin chaired the parade for 25 years
• Rick Paap and Officer Safety were grand marshals in 1988
• Olympic Gold Medallist Pat McCormick was grand marshal in 2004
• Paul Cabral from CVS was the first Junior Grand Marshal in 2004
• Last year was the first time the parade had more than 100 entries.