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Shore Parade Walks Saturday
By Shereen Oca
Staff Writer
Holiday festivities begin early in east Long Beach.
Approximately 60,000 spectators are expected to line East Second Street this Saturday, Dec. 6, for the annual Belmont Shore Christmas Parade.
Hosted by the Belmont Shore Business Association (BSBA), the event attracts area residents as well as people from surrounding cities such as Lakewood and Seal Beach.
“An important aspect of the holiday season is tradition,” said BSBA Executive Director Brooke Kennard. “This is the 26th year the parade has been in Belmont Shore, so it has become a staple of the community.... It brings us all together in the spirit of the holidays.”
This year, the parade is themed “A Water Wonderland” in honor of the presenting sponsor, the Aquarium of the Pacific. As such, many of the marching bands, drill teams and floats will be decorated with that motif in mind.
The 1.2-mile route will begin and end where East Livingston Drive and East Second Street converge, with the turn-around mark set for Bay Shore Avenue. Beginning at 6 p.m., parade participants will march, dance or ride down East Second Street with California State University, Long Beach, President F. King Alexander leading the way as this year’s grand marshal. So far, about 100 entries, which include area schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, youth groups and more, have signed up to join procession, Kennard said.
“It’s a great way for businesses, organizations and the community leaders who serve us to be recognized,” she said. “Belmont Shore is a popular destination to begin with…. It’s a great venue because of the numerous amounts of restaurants, coffee shops and stores that people can enjoy in addition to the parade.”
Browsing through shops and eating at Second Street cafés will probably be on the agenda for many parade spectators. Although the parade will begin at 6 p.m. (and will run through approximately 9 p.m.), spectators can start reserving their spot at 3 p.m., no earlier.
“Be ready with your chairs and blankets,” Kennard suggested. “Scout out your spot prior to three, but don’t leave your belongings out. At 3 p.m., it’s a mad dash.”
Members of the Long Beach Police Department will confiscate any items left on the street before 3 p.m., she added. She also recommended that spectators try and secure a spot between Nieto and Corona avenues. There, entrants will stop to perform in front of the Charter Communications booth, which will be recording the parade for broadcast at 5 p.m. every Sunday through December on channel 3. Bruce MacRae and Meghan Garvey, host of “Toast!,” will provide commentary from the booth, and Robert Garcia will be covering the parade on street-level.
Afterwards, awards will be handed out in the following categories: float sweepstakes award/most outstanding float; theme award; holiday award; and honorable mention. Last year’s winners were Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride, Inc., the Kiwanis Club of Long Beach, Shoreline Village and the Laurelcrest School for Girls.
Parking will be restricted on the side streets between East Second Street and the alleyways from noon to 10 p.m. as well as along Second Street from 2 to 10 p.m.
Street closures will be enforced as follows: beginning at noon, the side streets between East Second Street and the alleyways will be closed; starting at 3 p.m., East Second Street from Ximeno to Bay Shore avenues and Livingston Avenue from Termino Avenue to East Second Street will be shut down. All closed streets should reopen at about 10 p.m.
Also, plenty of bathrooms will be set up on alternating side streets adjacent to the alleyways.
The BSBA has teamed up with International City Racing, which will handle such aspects as signups, entry coordination and more, to produce the parade.
Sponsors include Boeing, Harbor Distributing, LLC, Formula Drift, LLC and the Port of Long Beach, among others.
For more information, call 434-3066 or visit www.belmontshore.org.
Approximately 60,000 spectators are expected to line East Second Street this Saturday, Dec. 6, for the annual Belmont Shore Christmas Parade.
Hosted by the Belmont Shore Business Association (BSBA), the event attracts area residents as well as people from surrounding cities such as Lakewood and Seal Beach.
“An important aspect of the holiday season is tradition,” said BSBA Executive Director Brooke Kennard. “This is the 26th year the parade has been in Belmont Shore, so it has become a staple of the community.... It brings us all together in the spirit of the holidays.”
This year, the parade is themed “A Water Wonderland” in honor of the presenting sponsor, the Aquarium of the Pacific. As such, many of the marching bands, drill teams and floats will be decorated with that motif in mind.
The 1.2-mile route will begin and end where East Livingston Drive and East Second Street converge, with the turn-around mark set for Bay Shore Avenue. Beginning at 6 p.m., parade participants will march, dance or ride down East Second Street with California State University, Long Beach, President F. King Alexander leading the way as this year’s grand marshal. So far, about 100 entries, which include area schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, youth groups and more, have signed up to join procession, Kennard said.
“It’s a great way for businesses, organizations and the community leaders who serve us to be recognized,” she said. “Belmont Shore is a popular destination to begin with…. It’s a great venue because of the numerous amounts of restaurants, coffee shops and stores that people can enjoy in addition to the parade.”
Browsing through shops and eating at Second Street cafés will probably be on the agenda for many parade spectators. Although the parade will begin at 6 p.m. (and will run through approximately 9 p.m.), spectators can start reserving their spot at 3 p.m., no earlier.
“Be ready with your chairs and blankets,” Kennard suggested. “Scout out your spot prior to three, but don’t leave your belongings out. At 3 p.m., it’s a mad dash.”
Members of the Long Beach Police Department will confiscate any items left on the street before 3 p.m., she added. She also recommended that spectators try and secure a spot between Nieto and Corona avenues. There, entrants will stop to perform in front of the Charter Communications booth, which will be recording the parade for broadcast at 5 p.m. every Sunday through December on channel 3. Bruce MacRae and Meghan Garvey, host of “Toast!,” will provide commentary from the booth, and Robert Garcia will be covering the parade on street-level.
Afterwards, awards will be handed out in the following categories: float sweepstakes award/most outstanding float; theme award; holiday award; and honorable mention. Last year’s winners were Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride, Inc., the Kiwanis Club of Long Beach, Shoreline Village and the Laurelcrest School for Girls.
Parking will be restricted on the side streets between East Second Street and the alleyways from noon to 10 p.m. as well as along Second Street from 2 to 10 p.m.
Street closures will be enforced as follows: beginning at noon, the side streets between East Second Street and the alleyways will be closed; starting at 3 p.m., East Second Street from Ximeno to Bay Shore avenues and Livingston Avenue from Termino Avenue to East Second Street will be shut down. All closed streets should reopen at about 10 p.m.
Also, plenty of bathrooms will be set up on alternating side streets adjacent to the alleyways.
The BSBA has teamed up with International City Racing, which will handle such aspects as signups, entry coordination and more, to produce the parade.
Sponsors include Boeing, Harbor Distributing, LLC, Formula Drift, LLC and the Port of Long Beach, among others.
For more information, call 434-3066 or visit www.belmontshore.org.
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