SEAL BEACH, Calif. 一 Red and green lights glowed as laughter and Christmas music filled Seal Beach’s Main Street as the community prepared for the start of the 47th annual Seal Beach Christmas parade. 

The parade, which took place on Dec. 5, is an annual holiday celebration hosted by the Seal Beach Lions Club and sponsored by various community organizations. This year’s parade had over 170 Lion volunteers that assisted with running the parade and 79 entries. These entries ranged from local businesses to families who want to support the community. 

The parade began at 7 p.m. with the Seal Beach police department riding down the street on bicycles to ensure the streets were clear to begin with the parade vehicles. From decorated trucks, classic cars, trailers and boats, the event showcased a plethora of fun forms of entertainment. Some notable vehicles included the Chick-Fil-A float, decorated with a Christmas cow handing out free Chick-Fil-A gift cards and the Los Alamitos School District school buses.

“(My favorite part is) seeing how incredibly creative organizations and businesses can be with their parade entry,” Scott Newman, Lions Club member and Parade Chairman said. 

A variety of bands and dance groups also showcased their talent down the street as they marched and danced through the crowd. The Almost Famous Kazoo Band, Los Alamitos High School Dance Team and Long Beach Royal Syncopated Regiment were just a few who performed Christmas tunes as they made their way down the street. 

Gallery • 6 Photos

Jaya Eapen

The Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriff's Pipe Band was just one of the many marching groups performing Christmas classics.

As such a long-standing tradition in the community, many LAHS students and families have grown up watching and getting involved in the parade.

“(During the event) I love running into past teachers and friends as we reconnect and enjoy the holiday spirit,” said LAHS senior Yara Saadeh. 

However, the Seal Beach Christmas parade is not simply a fun night for the community; it’s also a huge support for small businesses that occupy Main Street. The usually slow traffic of Seal Beach is often tripled on the day of the parade as attendees sit around and save their seats hours before the beginning. 

“(People) stake out space for chairs and then (have) two to three hours to shop and dine (while) waiting for the parade to start. Many businesses say that it is their busiest night of the year,” Newman said.

The planning of the parade is a long process, though. With nearly 120 hours of work prior to the parade day, the Lions who volunteer make incredible sacrifices to sustain the integrity and community feel of the event. 

“We start the process the day after the parade. The early work is getting feedback from leaders, the city, participants and volunteers,” Newman said. “We also will decide next year’s theme in December or January, (but) the bulk of the work starts in late August when registration begins and sponsors are solicited.”

With all of the hours spent, this year’s Seal Beach Christmas Parade once again united the community in a way unique compared to other local events.With hundreds of people from the surrounding community in attendance, it once again highlighted the tight-knit and community “mayberry” feel.