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Actor Alan Thicke Named 2014 Downtown Holiday Parade Grand Marshal

Release Date: October 13,2014

SANTA BARBARA, CA (October 13, 2014) – Downtown Santa Barbara is pleased to announce acclaimed actor, composer, writer and reality show star Alan Thicke will serve as this year’s Celebrity Grand Marshal for the 62nd Annual Downtown Holiday Parade. On December 5th, the Parade will make its way down State Street amidst marching bands, professionally-built floats, huge balloons and performance groups, under the theme “Winter Nights & Holiday Lights.”

Presiding over the 2014 parade, local resident Alan Thicke is a seven-time Emmy nominee, often referred to as “America’s Dad” for his stint as patriarch Jason Seaver on “Growing Pains.” The popular and beloved sitcom ran from 1985-1992 on ABC.

Currently starring with his family in the second season of the TVGN/Slice sitcom/reality show “Unusually Thicke,” Alan began his career as a writer for TV series and specials, including Richard Pryor, Flip Wilson, Bill Cosby, Johnny Cash, Barry Manilow and Olivia Newton-John.

He composed the themes for “Facts of Life” & “Diff’rent Strokes” (which he sang!). He had a recurring role on TV’s “How I Met Your Mother” and appears regularly on “'Real Time with Bill Maher.” For the Huffington Post, Alan authors the ‘Boomer Humor’ column which has so resonated in that demographic that he now fills open dates as Emcee or Keynote Speaker for corporate events and awards shows. A champion for the cause of diabetes, Alan was the keynote speaker at the annual Sansum Diabetes Research Institute’s “Together We Triumph” luncheon in Santa Barbara.

Alan was recently inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame and is husband to former Miami model Tanya Callau and proud ‘Pops’ to sons Brennan (Entrepreneur), Robin (Rock Star) and Carter (high school genius), as well as grandsons, Tyler (May ’08), and Julian (April ’10).

The Downtown Holiday Parade, will also feature the Holiday Prince and Fairy riding in a red 1968 Shelby GT500 convertible, driven by owner Stan Tabler. Santa Claus, the most anticipated appearance of the season, will conclude the festivities. For pre-parade one-on-one time photo op with Santa, kids will find him on his throne at Paseo Nuevo Center Court, from 3:30 to 5:30pm, December 5th.

Downtown Santa Barbara has balloon and float sponsors available – for more information about sponsorships or for a Parade entry form call 805-962-2098, extension 804. For kids wishing to enter the Holiday Prince & Fairy Art Contest, contact Susie at extension 800. To attend a Creative Workshop for suggestions on how to enhance your parade entry using costuming, lighting, music, decorations and more, contact Cassidy@DowntownSB.org.

The Downtown Holiday Parade is FREE and begins at 6:30pm on State at Sola Street and concludes at Cota Street. For more information, contact Downtown Santa Barbara at (805) 962-2098 ext. 804 or visit  www.DowntownSB.org.

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