The 83rd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade Brings a Star Studded Line-Up

Julianne Ishler

The 83rd annual Hollywood Christmas Parade kicks off the holiday season on Sunday, November 30. Televised on the Hallmark Channel, the nationally broadcast parade features floats, special performances, costume characters, and celebrity sightings – reserve your tickets early!

The Hollywood Christmas Parade is known to attract an overwhelming crowd due to the endless amount of entertainment for both children and adults, and the celebrities. Starting on Hollywood Boulevard at Orange, the parade travels in a U-shape for 3.5 miles. Each year, a Grand Marshal is chosen to be the face of the parade. Previous grand marshals included Natalie Wood, Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Hasselhoff and Larry King. This year, Stevie Wonder iconic musician and philanthropist, will serve as Grand Marshal. He is set to perform at the parade as well, while other performers have yet to be announced. (Check the event’s Facebook page for regular updates.) Parade co-hosts include Laura McKenzie and Erik Estrada, with special celebrity guest hosts Dean Cain and Montel Williams.

The Hollywood Christmas Parade, which takes place every Sunday after Thanksgiving, commenced in 1928 and was originally called “Santa Claus Lane Parade.” Its original intent was to boost shopping on Hollywood Boulevard by creating an extravaganza event for a one-mile stretch. The parade continued to grow in numbers each year and it became more of a production, The Parade was suspended from 1942 to 1944 because of World War II, however it reopened in 1945 and saw a boom in attendance. Actor Gene Autry, who rose to fame as a singing cowboy, joined the oversight of the parade along with Oakley Haldeman, who wrote his hit song “Here Comes Santa Claus” after being inspired by children repeatedly screaming the phrase. The parade grew throughout the decades, and by 1978, it was renamed the “Hollywood Christmas Parade” in an attempt to attract more celebrities. Unfortunately, the parade hit a rocky point in 2007, when a lack of celebrities attended the event and major money was lost because of lack of attendance. The City of Los Angeles also added a new parade called the Hollywood Santa Parade, which was by invitation only. However, in 2009, it was announced that MyNetworkTV would televise the Hollywood Christmas Parade. By 2010, the parades began airing on The Hallmark Channel on several dates throughout the holiday season. Now in 2014, the Hollywood Christmas Parade remains an iconic staple in Los Angeles’ holiday tradition.

Tickets to the Hollywood Christmas Parade can be purchased via Ticketmaster.