Red, White and Blue Theme as Seal Beach Christmas Parade Celebrates 38th Year

SEAL BEACH, CA — Floats, bands, and of course Santa Claus. The 38th Annual Seal Beach Christmas Parade Ushers in the Holidays with bands, floats, lots of kids and of course Santa. The Seal Beach Lion's Club has been gathering entries to the festive parade of floats that will be held December 2 at 7 p.m.

The theme Red, White and Blue will appear in the ‘continuous motion’ parade that highlights youth groups, sports groups, schools, businesses, first responders and other organizations from Seal Beach and the surrounding areas, Scott Newton, the Parade Chairman said.

"More than 17,000 are expected on Main Street to celebrate the holidays in a hometown ‘Mayberry by the Sea’ parade," Newton said. "This year’s theme is: A Red, White and Blue Christmas."

According to the website, local businessman Tom Rose thought up the idea of having a Christmas Parade in 1979. The idea was to bring shoppers out to Main Street.

"The first parade was loosely organized with mostly civic groups, businesses and school children as participants," the Lion's Club said. In 1979, 23 entries marched up and down Main Street a couple of times starting and ending at the pier.

In the early years, the McGaugh School Marching Band was the only musical entertainment. The next year Realtor Jim Klisanin was asked to ‘help’ with the parade and ended up chairing the event for 22 years, they stated.

"The first Grand Marshal in 1981 was George ‘Babe’ Sidon who was a beloved cobbler (Shoe repairman) on Main Street," they said. "Grand Marshals from all walks of life have led the parade ever since."

There is a limit of 11o float entries that will make their way down Main Street in an array of lights, sound and dancing.

Bring your blankets, chairs and festive attire to wave for the parade floats and wait to see Santa ride in to Seal Beach.

For more information, visit: www.sealbeachlions.org

Photos, courtesy Seal Beach Lion's Club, 2015 Christmas Parade