The 2009 Hollywood Christmas Parade will usher in Santa with the help of Grand Marshal Susan Lucci and many local celebs, floats, marching bands, and children of all ages at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, November 29.
The parade route on Hollywood Blvd. between La Brea and Highland Avenues is the reviewing area, but the staging area requires closure of additional blocks in each direction from the Kodak Theatre complex. The full parade route and street closures can be found on the city's special parade web site.
Grandstand bleacher seats for advance ticket holders will be along the reviewing area in front of the Kodak Theatre. Curbside public viewing is free of charge along the remainder of the route.
Grand Marshal Susan Lucci is being honored not only for her long-standing career in show business, but for her TV daytime drama's move to Hollywood. Next year, "All My Children" will bring much-needed jobs to LA from New York, where it has filmed for the past 39 years.
Since 2007, the Hollywood Christmas Parade has been officially named the Hollywood Santa Parade, but locals have stuck with the historical title, despite marketing to the contrary. (Cue silent movie music.) The 2007 parade nearly didn't happen, due to Chamber of Commerce budget concerns (boo, hiss). When the parade was cut that year (gasp!), the Chamber retained ownership of its title (sigh). Quickly, (music swells) a new parade was thrown together from the original plans, named the "Hollywood Santa Parade" on paper (a throwback to its original title 76 years earlier), and was produced with the sponsorship of the LA City Council (Hurrah! Our Hero!). In hopes that corporate sponsorships will cover future parade costs, the 2009 Hollywood Santa (ahem, Christmas) Parade will be sponsored by Coca-Cola (applause).
Now that you're all confused about what to call it, just make sure you save a good spot on Sunset or Hollywood Blvd. Sunday afternoon. Watch Santa enter the Walk of Fame in red carpet style, and see if he'll be holding an old-fashioned bottle of Coke.
For more info: See a variety of entertainment news and info on J.C. Russell's home page.
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