Holiday Parade Update #2 – December 4th at 10AM
Good news from KEYT Meteorologist Kelsey Gerckens, “For now things are looking good. Looks like we will be mostly dry Friday with just a chance of light rain possible for Santa Barbara. It looks like that storm will be coming overnight Friday (closer to midnight) into Saturday.”
Participant entries: please inform Downtown Santa Barbara staff by noon on December 6th if you plan to withdraw parade participation.
More than 65,000 spectators will line State Street in anticipation of Santa Barbara’s only nighttime parade, the 67th Annual Downtown Santa Barbara Holiday Parade, Presented by Consumer Fire Products Inc! Officially kicking off the holiday season, this signature Downtown Santa Barbara event brings a colossal contingent of high-stepping marching bands, fabulous holiday-themed floats, spectacular performance groups, local personalities, and our amazing, soon to be announced, Grand Marshal! The Holiday Prince and Fairy, selected from winning artwork best capturing the parade theme, will lead the parade and light up the community Christmas tree on their way down the parade route.
This year's theme is A TROPICAL HOLIDAY - we’re celebrating all things TROPICAL! So break out those Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts and leis and help us show off the sunny, laid back attitude of Santa Barbara!
We hope everyone will be swept away to the tropics right here in our own backyard!
Sponsored by Paseo Nuevo Shops & Restaurants
The Holiday Prince and Fairy winning artwork has been selected from nearly 100 entries best capturing the parade theme. Congratulations to our winners, Kevin Isais (10) and Alexandra Arnold (10), who will lead the HOLIDAY parade AND light the community Christmas tree, dressed in their new Holiday attire - courtesy of Nordstrom!
Special recognition to our runner's up!
Lakyn Wood and Cesar Martinez in the Prince Category
Margaret Deakyne and Olivia O'Neil in the Fairy category
Thanks again to our Prince & Fairy Sponsor, Paseo Nuevo Shops & Restaurants.
Thank you to all of our amazingly dedicated and jolly volunteers!
Interested in volunteering for the 67th Annual Downtown Santa Barbara Holiday Parade, Presented by Consumer Fire Products Inc?
Please direct all questions to:
April Lee
Marketing & Events Manager
Sponsored by Michael Hurley and Nora McNeely Hurley and the Manitou Fund
We are excited to honor Heal the Ocean as the 2019 Holiday Parade Grand Marshal. Heal the Ocean was formed in August 1998 by Founder and Executive Director Hillary Hauser. HTO is a citizens' action group that focuses on wastewater infrastructure – sewers and septic systems – as well as ocean dumping practices that have contributed to ocean pollution. HTO efforts are focused on Santa Barbara County, but their methods are now serving as a model for other coastal communities across the country. Heal The Ocean will be joined by celebrity guest Jean-Michel Cousteau!
The parade will form in the 1400 to 1600 blocks of State Street, the 00 blocks of East and West Micheltorena and Sola Streets from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm. The parade will start at 6:30 pm and proceed south on State Street to Cota Street. The parade will end at approximately 8:30 pm, disbanding on the 00 blocks of East and West Cota Street. Street closures at the top of the parade route (north of Sola St.) will begin to open immediately following the parade. All streets re-open at approximately 11:00 pm.
CLOSURES FOR 2019:
• Close @ 3:00pm E. Sola from State to Anacapa St. until parade end for forming.
• Close Arlington Ave. @ 1:00 pm. from State St. to bank entrance. Allowing full access to bank and strip mall. Set-up VIP tent approved by SBFD.
• E. Cota will be closed at 5:30pm.
If you have any questions regarding the closures, please contact Downtown Santa Barbara at (805) 962-2098.
