Holiday parade will be bigger

The lights are going up, the pine trees are being cut, the smell and cheer of Christmas is finally here.

The Third Avenue Village Association will host its 49th annual Starlight Parade on Saturday, Dec. 4.

Decorations that have been stored all year long are finally being put up in Chula Vista and the Third Avenue community is getting a firsthand look.

According to the Third Avenue Village Association, the event is the largest nighttime parade in the South County. Special features will include carolers, decorated floats, local school marching bands and Santa Claus.

The parade theme this year is “A Storybook Holiday” and floats will be decorated as childhood holiday stories and fables.

Jovita Juarez, event manager, said that approximately 60,000 people are expected to attend the Christmas celebration. On Third Avenue, E Street to I Street will be blocked off, and on H Street, Fourth Avenue to Second Avenue will be blocked off east and west.

Juarez said that unlike last year’s parade, this year there will be more floats and more marching bands. People can also bring their own cameras and take pictures with Santa. “The people in general are what makes a parade successful; you can’t have a parade without people,” said Juarez

The free Christmas parade will begin at 6 p.m along the streets of Third Avenue in downtown Chula Vista.

For more information call (619) 422-1982 or visit www.thirdavenuevillage.com.