Downtown Holiday Parade

Friday, December 2, 2011, 6:30pm

2011 Theme: Holiday Dreams

More than 50,000 spectators are expected to line downtown Santa Barbara on Friday evening December 2, to cheer on a colossal contingent of high-stepping marching bands, fabulous holiday floats, spectacular performance groups, local personalities, and of course, the most anticipated appearance of the evening...the annual arrival of Santa Claus, dispensing holiday cheer from atop his festive sleigh. The Holiday Prince & Fairy officially light up the night with the lighting of the large Christmas tree at State & Victoria Streets.

Meet and Greet: Friday, December 2nd

Santa Claus - Paseo Nuevo Center Court, 4:00pm-5:30pm

Grand Marshal Lakey Peterson - The Granada Theatre, 3:30pm-5:00pm

The parade begins at 6:30pm at State Street and Sola Street and concludes at Cota Street. For more information, call 805-962-2098 ext. 22.

Click here for the Parade entry application.

Parade History
In the early 1950’s, a tradition began to decorate State Street with 40 foot tall Douglas fir Christmas trees during the holidays. These trees actually lined the center divider lines of what used to be a four lane street. Sponsored then by the Retail Merchants Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Parks and Recreation Department, the trees were officially dedicated and lit during the Children’s Christmas Parade by the Christmas Fairy. The Children’s Christmas Parade is now known as the Downtown Holiday Parade and is held annually, one week after Thanksgiving.

The parade, in its 59th year, has since evolved into Santa Barbara’s only nighttime street parade. After 31 years of Saturday morning debuts, the parade returned to the Friday evening tradition in 1998. This year’s tradition takes place on Friday, December 2nd officially welcoming the holiday season downtown with the lighting of the 45’ Community Christmas Tree located at the corner of State and Victoria Streets.

Community Holiday Tree
Join the Downtown Organization as its gift to the community arrives on Tuesday, November 22 to be placed on State Street just in time for the holiday season!

The 45’ Douglas Fir Community Holiday Tree is sponsored by the Downtown Organization and is graciously donated by Southern California Edison. The Downtown Organization would like to thank Southern California Edison for delivering the tree to downtown Santa Barbara and the City of Santa Barbara’s Public Works and Parks Departments for the installation just north of the intersection of Victoria and State Streets.

The tree is expected to arrive on State Street at 8am Tuesday morning and be installed between 8:30am and 10:00am. The official lighting of the tree will take place on Friday, December 2 at 6:30pm by the Holiday Prince and Fairy at the beginning of the 59th Annual Downtown Holiday Parade. This magnificent tree will shine brightly through the holiday season.

Holiday Prince & Fairy Contest
Deadline: November 11, 2011

Hey kids….want to light the trees along State Street and ride in a horse drawn carriage in the Downtown Holiday Parade? Then enter the 2011 Prince & Fairy Art Contest! As the Holiday Prince or Fairy, you’ll ride in the December 2nd Downtown Holiday Parade at 6:30pm with the Grand Marshal.

The tradition of the Christmas Fairy, now the Holiday Prince & Fairy, began with the first parade in 1953.

The Holiday Prince & Fairy ride in a horse drawn carriage with the Grand Marshal. The Holiday Prince & Fairy are chosen for their creativity and originality in an art contest co-sponsored by the Downtown Organization and The Santa Barbara Independent.

To enter, please follow these guidelines:
• Open to children ages 6-10; one entry per child.
• On a seperate piece of paper, no larger than 11" x 17" draw, color or paint a picture that represents what makes the Holidays Magical for you.
• Entries MUST include child’s name and age, and parent or guardian’s name, address, and daytime and evening phone numbers.
• Entries must be recieved by 4 pm on Friday, November 11th.
• Children selected must be available to participate in the parade on Friday December 2nd.

Click here to download an entry form. Entries may be mailed to:

Downtown Organization
Attn: Prince and Fairy
Post Office Box 240
Santa Barbara, CA 93102

or dropped off Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm, at:

Downtown Organization Offices
27-B East de la Guerra
(between State Street and Anacapa Street across from City Hall

Click here to view images from past Downtown Holiday Parades.