The 90th edition of the Hollywood Christmas Parade will move through the streets of Tinseltown today, another sign the holiday season has arrived.
Actor Danny Trejo will serve as grand marshal of the parade, which kicks off at 6 p.m. from Hollywood Boulevard at Orange Street, turns east on Hollywood Boulevard to Vine Street, south on Vine to Sunset Boulevard and finally west on Sunset, returning to Orange Street.
Thousands of spectators are expected to line the 3.2-mile, U-shaped route to watch some 90 celebrities and VIPs — along with 10 four-story-high character balloons, 14 musical or dance acts, a dozen marching bands, four floats, including a new “Dinosaurs in the Valley”-themed float, and some 50 movie and novelty cars.
Capping the evening will be a visit from Santa Claus himself, along with his reindeer.
In all, some 5,000 participants are expected in the parade, which supports Marine Toys for Tots.
Local marching bands taking part this year will be the Pasadena Unified School Band; the PAVA World Traditional Korean Band of Los Angeles; and the Los Angeles Catholic Schools Band of Torrance, as well as the U.S. Marine Corps Band, based in San Diego.
Among the balloons will be at 45-foot Betty Boop, a 40-foot Toy Solider and a 35-foot Mighty Mouse, along with a giant gingerbread man, candy cane and various outsized holiday ornaments.
Some of the celebs expected to be on hand include actor Tom Arnold, a past grand marshal, cast members from the TV shows “Bob Hearts Abishola,” “The Office” and several soap operas, the movies “A Christmas Story” and “A Miracle Before Christmas,” recently retired Dodgers broadcaster Jaime Jarrín and vintage TV stars Butch Patrick (“The Munsters”) and Jerry Mathers (“Leave It To Beaver”).
Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Council members Mitch O’Farrell and Heather Hutt will be among the dignitaries.
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The parade has been held every year since 1928, except from 1942 to 1944 due to World War II, and in 2020, when it was canceled because of the pandemic.
The Hollywood Christmas Parade was first held in 1928, when it was called the “Santa Claus Lane Parade.” Comedian Joe E. Brown was the first grand marshal in 1932 — a role later filled by such luminaries as Bob Hope, Gene Autry, Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne.
The parade will be taped for a two-hour special to air Dec. 16 on The CW network from 8 p.m.-10 p.m., hosted by Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain and Montel Williams, with Elizabeth Stanton serving as special co-host. The parade will also be telecast internationally on the American Forces Network during the holiday season.
The parade’s aim is also to call attention to the Marine Toys for Tots program, which is marking its 75th year. The program distributes an average of 18 million toys to 7 million less fortunate children each year.