Christmas Parade Saturday

History of the Santa Paula Christmas Parade and Parade lineup

1950 - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 700 KIDS SAW SANTA CLAUS AT THE FIRE STATION AFTER HE CAME DOWN MAIN STREET ON A FIRE ENGINE.1951 - HIGH SCHOOL BAND LEAD SANTA CLAUSE DOWN MAIN STREET.1952 - GAILY DECORATED CHRISTMAS TREES WITH RED AND GREEN LIGHTS LINED MAIN STREET.1953 - ISBELL BAND JOINED THE HIGH SCHOOL BAND DOWN “CHRISTMAS TREE LANE.”1954 - SANTA CLAUS RODE ATOP A NEW CITY FIRE TRUCK WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL BAND IN THE LEAD AND THE ISBELL AND BRIGGS SCHOOL BANDS FOLLOWING.1955 - “SANTA CLAUS PARADE.”1956 - CONTINUED TO HAVE THREE BANDS. PARADE WAS ON FIRST WEEKEND IN DECEMBER. COORDINATED BY THE 20-30 CLUB.1957 - SANTA RODE ABOARD A SLEIGH MOUNTED ON JACK CRONIN’S JEEP. IT LED A PARADE DOWN MAIN STREET THAT CONSISTED OF A NUMBER OF GAILY DECORATED FLOATS AND TWO BANDS.1958 - WELL-LIT CUTOUT PLYWOOD TREES LINED MAIN STREET DURING A PARADE WHICH HAD 23 FLOATS. 2500 CHILDREN ATTENDED THE PARTY AT THE FIRE STATION. 1959 - “CANDY CANE LANE” WAS FORMED BY NEW DECORATIONS WHICH WERE 32-FOOT STRIPPED CANDY CANES WITH LIT METAL CHRISTMAS TREE ATTACHED. CANDY CANES WERE BUILT BY F.M. PEARCE. 31 ENTRIES. 1960 - 25 ENTRIES WITH SANTA CLAUSE RIDING A FLOAT WHICH HAD TWO REINDEER.1961 - 9 ENTRIES AND MISS SANTA PAULA, YVONNE LIGHT. 1962 - MOVED TO THANKSGIVING FRIDAY. IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.1963 - GRAND MARSHAL, JOE WELLMAN; MISS SANTA PAULA, NORMA ARAIZA; THE PARADE INCLUDED EQUESTRIANS AND AN AIRPLANE.1964 - GRAND MARSHAL, JEANETTE TAYLOR; MISS SANTA PAULA, MARILYN BURLSON; FIVE BANDS FROM THE SANTA PAULA AREA.1965 - GRAND MARSHAL. E.E. CONVERSE; 40 ENTRIES.1966 - RAINED OUT AND RESCHEDULED; 55 ENTRIES.1967 - 80 ENTRIES; RAINED OUT TWICE. THEME WAS “CHRISTMAS IN MANY LANDS.” JAYCEES COORDINATED BUT THERE WAS NO PARADE.1968 - THEME WAS “CHRISTMAS IN OTHER LANDS.” COORDINATED BY THE JAYCEES. 5 BANDS; 50 ENTRIES.1969 - THEME WAS “CHRISTMAS FANTASY.” COORDINATED BY ACTIVE 20-30 CLUB. GEORGE ESPINOZA WAS AWARDED A SPECIAL TROPHY; 40 ENTRIES. 1970 - THEME WAS “A CHRISTMAS NIGHT.” THE PARADE WAS RESCHEDULED AND IT WAS BIGGER THAN EVER; 60 ENTRIES. SANTA OFFICIALLY ENTERED THE GLEN CITY IN THE PARADE, RIDING THE NEW FIRE ENGINE THAT WAS RECENTLY DELIVERED TO THE CITY.1971 - GRAND MARSHAL, MRS. JULIETTE M. JONES; 60 ENTRIES.1972 - THE PARADE ROUTE WAS REVERSED; 90 ENTRIES. GRAND MARSHAL. JOHN CHISLER; MISS SANTA PAULA, ROBIN McCLOUD.1973 - THEME WAS “CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD.” 100 ENTRIES; GRAND MARSHAL, CLETE ROBERTS. 1974 - THEME WAS “AN OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS.” GRAND MARSHAL, SUPERVISOR RALPH “HOOT” BENNETT; MISS SANTA PAULA, DONNA WILKINSON.1975 - THEME WAS “100-200 CHRISTMAS”; SANTA PAULA CENTENNIAL AND U.S. BICENTENNIAL. GRAND MARSHAL, DR. GRACE THILLE. 130 ENTRIES; LARGEST PARADE EVER.1976 - GRAND MARSHAL, PAUL WATTS; MISS SANTA PAULA, BECKY MARZEC; 100 ENTRIES.1977 - GRAND MARSHALS ASSEMBLYMAN CHARLES IMBRECHT AND SENATOR OMAR RAINS. 115 ENTRIES.1978 - 50 ENTRIES.1979 - GRAND MARSHAL, GEORGE ESPINOZA; 100 EN1980 - GRAND MARSHAL, MEL HOWERY; 100 ENTRIES.1981 - GRAND MARSHAL, JIM MORRISON; 90 ENTRIES.1982 - GRAND MARSHAL, LLOYD ONSTOT; 70 ENTRIES. CANDY CANES REFURBISHED BY THE JAYCEES. ED ZAKRAJSHEK REPAIRED, DON SORRICK SANDBLASTED, GARY PRENTISS GOT THE PAINT, AND RON MERSON PAINTED.1983 - THEME WAS “CHRISTMAS AT GRANDMA’S.” GRAND MARSHAL, GENE MARZEC; 80 ENTRIES.1984 - THEME WAS “CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET.” GRAND MARSHAL, DONNA NELSON; 66 ENTRIES.1985 - THEME WAS “A CHRISTMAS WISH.” GRAND MARSHAL, VICTOR SALAS; 90 ENTRIES.1986 - THEME WAS “A CHRISTMAS PAST.” GRAND MARSHAL, HAL RINGLE, SR.; 60 ENTRIES.1987 - THEME WAS “A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS.” GRAND MARSHAL, MAUREEN SPENCER, STORY LADY; 70 ENTRIES.1988 - THEME WAS “CHRISTMAS CHEER.” GRAND MARSHAL, HOWARD BOLTON; 70 ENTRIES. 1989 - THEME WAS “THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS.” GRAND MARSHAL, PAT ALDERSON; 75 ENTRIES; 25 EQUESTRIAN ENTRIES. 1990 - THEME WAS “CHRISTMAS FRIENDS.” GRAND MARSHAL, CECIL PRECIADO; 65 ENTRIES; VERY NICE WEATHER AND THE PARADE WENT SMOOTHLY.1991 - THEME WAS “CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD.” GRAND MARSHAL, TOM RILEY; 70 ENTRIES; NICE WEATHER; THE AWARDS CEREMONY WAS MOVED TO EBELL PARK AND THE KIDS HAD FUN PLAYING ON THE GRASS.1992 - THEME WAS “CHRISTMAS MEMORIES.” GRAND MARSHAL. LES H. MALAND; 75 ENTRIES; 12 YOUTH FLOAT AND 8 CUSTOM CAR CLUBS; THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT AND EVERYONE HAD A GOOD TIME.1993 - THEME WAS “FAMILY CHRISTMAS.” GRAND MARSHAL, DONNA AND TERRY NELSON; 82 ENTRIES; MANY COMMERCIAL ENTRIES THIS YEAR; THE WEATHER WAS COOL AND BREEZY; MANY COMMENTS THAT THIS WAS THE BEST PARADE EVER.1994- THEME WAS “CHRISTMAS AT HOME.” GRAND MARSHAL DOROTHY ANNE PHILLIPS; 72 ENTRIES. RAINED THE DAY AND NIGHT BEFORE. THE PARADE DAY WAS COOL, CRISP. AND BEAUTIFUL AND THE PARADE RAN SMOOTHLY. THERE WAS PLENTY OF VARIETY AMONG THE ENTRIES. 1995- THEME WAS “CHRISTMAS MEMORIES.” GRAND MARSHAL ANITA PULIDO; 70 ENTRIES. IT WAS A WARM DAY AND EVERYONE HAD A GOOD TIME.1996- THEME WAS “A FAMILY CHRISTMAS.” GRAND MARSHAL RICHARD RUIZ; 75 ENTRIES. IT WAS WINDY THE DAY BEFORE BUT IT WAS COOL AND CALM ON PARADE DAY. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ENTRY WAS THREE BLOCKS LONG. THE CANDY CANES WERE REMOVED FROM MAIN STREET ON JANUARY 18, 1997 FOR THE LAST TIME BY THE S.P. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 1997- THEME WAS “A TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS.” GRAND MARSHAL RAUL CERVANTES; 75 ENTRIES. THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT AND IT HAD A SLIGHT CRISPNESS. THERE WERE A LOT MORE ENTRIES WITH CHILDREN IN THEM THIS YEAR. MAIN STREET WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION BUT IT WAS OPEN FOR PARADE DAY. THE TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM OPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CLOCK TOWER.1998- THEME WAS “KIDS IN TOYLAND.” GRAND MARSHALL GENE MARZEC; 73 ENTRIES BUT ONLY 50 SHOWED UP BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING. IT STARTED RAINING 3:00 AM AND CONTINUED UNTIL ABOUT 11:00 AM. THIS WAS THE FIRST PARADE SINCE THE COMPLETION OF MAIN STREET. THE NEW TREES ARE DECORATED WITH TWINKLE LIGHTS THAT ARE TURNED ON AT NIGHT. 1999- THEME WAS “CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD.” GRAND MARSHALL RALPH LEON; 54 ENTRIES AND ALL BUT TWO SHOWED UP. THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT FOR A PARADE. 2000- THEME WAS “CHRISTMAS DREAMS.” GRAND MARSHALL JOE BRAVO. 56 ENTRIES AND ALL BUT THREE SHOWED UP. MANY COMMENTED IT WAS THE BEST PARADE IN YEARS BECAUSE OF THE VARIETY AND MANY ENTRIES HAD MORE VEHICLES AND PEOPLE INVOLVED. THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT. 2001- THEME WAS “A CHRISTMAS WISH.” GRAND MARSHALL JOYCE CARLSON WAS SELECTED BECAUSE OF HER WORK WITH THE MURALS PROJECT. 60 ENTRIES BUT 10 DROPPED OUT BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING. LIGHT RAIN IN THE EARLY MORNING AND POURING DOWN BY NOON. MANY COMMENTED IT WAS A GREAT PARADE AND IT WAS WHAT WE NEEDED AFTER THE TRAGIC EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER.2002 - THEME WAS “A PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS” GRAND MARSHALL PEGGY KELLY WAS SELECTED BECAUSE OF HER WIT AND EFFORTS IN SANTA PAULA. IT RAINED THE NIGHT BEFORE AND UP TO 9:45 AM THEN IT QUIT AND IT WAS SUNNY DURING THE PARADE. BY 1:00 PM WE HAD THUNDER AND LIGHTNING IN SANTA CLARA VALLEY AND FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS IN THE COUNTY. RAINED THE REST OF THE DAY. MANY SAID IT WAS THE BEST PARADE EVER AND WE HAD MANY NEW AND DIFFERENT ENTRIES.“CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD”01 VIP SCOUT TROOPS COMBINED COLOR GUARD02 VIP GRAND MARSHALL TONY VASQUEZ