The Hollywood Christmas Parade

Last night I took B to her first Hollywood Christmas Parade.

The parade - which is 81 years old - is the same one I used to go to when I was little.

People lining up to wait for the parade to start

 

An older boy helped B pass the time by teaching her how to play Angry Birds

 

There was the same mix of the truly impressive (giant balloons, equestrian acts, marching bands from all over the country) with the charmingly goofy (local politicians, minor celebrities, representatives from not one but two cult religions). 

 

Yes, the Scientologists had a balloon.

 

Not to mention every "famous car" you could possibly name, from Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, Batman, Herbie the Love Bug... well, all of them. 

 

 

I had never seen a giant parade balloon before (they only added them to the lineup in recent years) and I was pretty impressed.

  

  
There were a lot of dancers, flag twirlers, and other performers, plus "dancing" horses and a float sponsored by the San Diego Zoo featuring a live leopard.

Beatrice loved every minute of it, from the subway ride to Santa's traditional appearance on the last float of the night.  I think she waved non-stop for the entire parade.  And she was remarkably patient and well-behaved, too, considering we waited on the street for two hours in the cold before the parade even started.  (True, it was only 55F, but when you're sitting motionless outside for four hours, even 55 starts to feel chilly, especially with the fog.)

 

We found a great spot right in front, on Hollywood Boulevard between Ivar and Vine, at the halfway point of the parade route.

Most of the other parade-goers had come prepared with camp chairs, snacks, blankets, and hot drinks.  We didn't bring anything with us this year but everyone sitting around us was so nice, they gave B a bottle of water, a slice of pizza, and some snacks, let her sit in one of the camp chairs, and one woman even gave her a light-up Santa hat to wear. 
 
Beatrice's favorite part was the marching bands - she marched in place as each one passed.

 

 

The Hollywood Christmas Parade is one of my fondest childhood memories and I'm so glad it's still going strong.  Next year Dev and Arthur will come, too, and we'll pack a few extra blankets and snacks.

 

 

Passed out on the subway on the way home