City of Encinitas Holiday Parade

The City of Encinitas Parks and Recreation Department is excited to announce the 2010 Encinitas Holiday Parade, taking place on Saturday, December 4th, at 5:30pm.

Giving doesn?t always have to be about big, expensive gifts, that?s why the Holiday Parade Advisory Committee selected this year?s theme, ?Illuminate the Season- with Gifts of Service.? This year?s event will celebrate community service and giving to others. The Committee selection of Dave and Margo Oakley as the Parade?s Grand Marshals stays true to the theme, as they embody the spirit of giving, through the countless hours of volunteer work they have done in the community. Parade Advisory Committee member Carolyn Roy Cope calls the Oakleys, ?a wonderful living example to the citizens and youth of our community.? Dave and Margo will lead 100 entries down the historic Coast Highway 101 parade route.

Recreation Supervisor Nick Buck notes, ?The parade is one of the City?s most popular annual events. Everyone gets in the spirit, from participants to observers. It?s a great Encinitas celebration.? This year?s event will give the many parade participants the opportunity to show off the many great things they do in the community and the nearly 3,000 children who participate in the Parade will get to experience the true meaning of holiday spirit. Parade entries, which will include floats, marching bands and children?s groups among other things, will travel south along South Coast Highway 101 beginning at the corner of ?D? Street and finishing at ?J? Street. The parade brings together almost 20,000 friends, neighbors, clubs, service groups and retailers. It?s free for all to come out and enjoy, and a great way to kick off the holiday season in Encinitas.

Also, don?t miss Santa kicking off the evening by greeting the crown and lighting the tree at our annual ?Tree Lighting Ceremony.? Usually you have to wait until the end of the Parade to see Santa, but plan to join us at 5pm at the Lumberyard courtyard to watch Santa ?light? the holiday tree. The Tree-Lighting Ceremony is a long-time tradition of the Encinitas Holiday Parade. Special thanks to Cornerstone Property Management, the owners of the Lumberyard, for once again providing the tree through the holiday season.

Come on down early, pick a great spot along the route, bundle up, sip on some hot cocoa and let the festivities begin! A Parade parking shuttle makes getting to the Parade a breeze. The shuttle will run from Ecke Sports Park/YMCA, located at 278 Saxony Road every 20 minutes beginning at 4pm. For additional information visit www.EncinitasRecReg.com or call the City of Encinitas Parks and Recreation Department at (760) 633-2740. Happy Holidays!