Chula Vista’s historic Third Avenue Village will be filled with plenty of holiday spirit this Saturday, Dec. 6.
The Third Avenue Village Association is kicking off the festivities that will run from noon to 5 p.m. with its third annual Holiday in the Village event.
Community members will also welcome back the Starlight Parade from 6 to 8 p.m.
The Starlight Parade makes its way down Third Avenue from E to H streets after a three-year hiatus.
Council members Rudy Ramirez and Pat Aguilar led the parade revival efforts and said the holiday tradition will pick up where it left off.
“(The community) can expect all that the parade has been throughout the years plus more,” Ramirez said. “It is going to come back with a bang and with some enhanced activities.”
Ramirez said the parade will also help feature businesses on Third Avenue as several merchants will offer discounts and promotions.
“We really want to make this a community event and highlight Third Avenue at the same time,” he said.
Ramirez expects 30,000 attendees at the parade.
Chula Vista’s VFW Post 2011 will start the parade with its color guard presentation.
Parade performers also include local school bands and dance groups, Boy Scout troops, horse and carriages, and low riders.
Aguilar said about 100 parade participants are expected to perform.
San Diego Gas & Electric’s Frosty’s Snow Hill is one of the main attractions for both the Starlight Parade and Holiday in the Village. The attraction will allow attendees to slide down a snow-covered hill in Memorial Park
McFarlane Promotions is putting on the event.
The Starlight Parade once was a fixture in Chula Vista until it was cancelled by TAVA because they could no longer afford the estimated $40,000 production.
Instead, TAVA now focuses on putting forward its Holiday In The Village event.
Luanne Hulsizer, TAVA’s executive director, said Holiday in the Village has a $ 6,000 budget.
Holiday in the Village features many children’ s activities, strolling performers, contests and drawings.
Costumed characters will also be on hand to read holiday- themed books.
Just like the Starlight Parade, Hulsizer said Holiday in the Village will focus on Third Avenue businesses.
“Holiday in the Village is two-fold,” Hulsizer said. “We really want to have an opportunity to provide a free family holiday event for the community at large; and also provide our members, our merchants in the district, with an opportunity to showcase their services or goods for sale or restaurants.”
Hulsizer said Holiday in the Village attendance figures could fluctuate with the Starlight Parade occurring on the same day.
Aguilar said the budget for the parade is about $40,000, with $15,000 coming from the city in seed money and the rest through sponsorships.
Aguilar said the plan is to make the Starlight Parade sustainable for many years to come.
“We think what we need is to create some kind of group that is dedicated to putting this parade on.”
She said after the parade she and Ramirez will focus on creating a nonprofit 501(c)3 to help fund the annual parade.
“The partnership of the parade I think will greatly enhance our attendance,” Hulsizer said.
Ramirez said he’s heard a lot of interest from the community about the parade.
“I think the community has more than forgotten about it,” he said. “I think they’ve missed it.”
