Festive floats and holiday lights will illuminate Third Avenue and kick off the holiday season at Chula Vista’s 76th annual Starlight Parade Dec. 7 beginning at 5 p.m. Before the parade, the annual Children’s Faire will take place at Memorial Park from 2 to 5 p.m.
Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas said she looks forward to the community spirit of the event every year, and will be driving in her brother’s 1965 red convertible Mustang again this year.
“It’s such a longtime tradition and lots of families go year after year to enjoy the parade.
It’s just a great way for the community to get together,” Salas said.
More than 100 local schools, community organizations and businesses will participate in the parade, starting on Third Avenue and traveling north from H Street and E Street. Some will ride in holiday-inspired floats, while others will drive cars, ride motorcycles, march, dance or ride equestrian — a wide array of processions and performances for Chula Vistans to watch from their spots on the street.
Parade participants will compete in a variety of categories including best representation of a holiday theme, most creative, best use of lights and most enthusiastic.
“It’s just a really loved event from Chula Vista, it’s really family-friendly. People from Tijuana come up as well, and we’re really excited for this year,” McFarlane Promotions PR and Marketing Manage Estefania Cerda said.
Real snow is being brought to Chula Vista for the Children’s Faire, where kids will be able to sled down a hill with their friends in sunny southern California. Other Children’s Faire activities include a bounce house, pictures with Santa, a holiday craft tent and story time where kids will get to listen to holiday tales — and all of the kids activities are free.
“It benefits the community because it’s free event, it’s just a space for family to come together and enjoy the community,” Cerda said. “It’s just a great environment to be in and there’s a lot of positive energy around.”
Local vendors will also be at the Starlight Parade and Children’s Faire selling food for attendees to enjoy, including Archer Fries, Bullseye Kettle Corn, Delish Dogs and Tacos El Rorro.
