Continuing the tradition of spreading seasonal joy and showcasing the pride of its grassroots community, Pacoima held its 57th Annual Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec. 14, with plenty of cars, marching bands and charros to entertain the large crowd stretched along Van Nuys Boulevard.
The parade got off to a late start, but after opening remarks from local and state officials – including Los Angeles City Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez and Imelda Padilla, City of San Fernando Mayor Mary Mendoza, Vice Mayor Mary Solorio, the outgoing Congressman Tony Cárdenas and newly elected Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez – the event was finally underway.
The San Fernando High School marching band led the start of the parade, with LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath riding in the first car as the event’s grand marshal. Monica Rodriguez was not too far behind her, waving to the crowd riding atop an antique LA Fire Department truck.
Classic movie and TV characters joined the parade. Oogie Boogie from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” strode alongside a dune buggy driven by Sally, one of the movie’s protagonists, while a young child dressed up as the ghost canine Zero waved to the crowd from the passenger seat.
Folklorico dancers, charros, classic cars and the Grinch all featured at the 57th Annual Pacoima Holiday Parade. (SFVS/el Sol Photos/Gabriel Arizon)
The Grinch snuck into the parade several times – once in a green and black convertible for ICON CDC, in front of a Cybertruck with a large inflatable in the back that bore his likeness, and another time riding in a float driven by Boo-Boo’s Ice Cream Truck, busting a move to the tune of hip hop music.
The deafening roar of Bosco’s Harley-Davidson Charity Foundation to the OBS Truck Club entertained the crowd, but the many lowriders were a crowd favorite. The drivers showed off the hydraulics and modifications made to their rides. One car had its frame lowered so close to the ground, it was mere centimeters from the pavement. Another lowrider was balanced on its side as onlookers applauded.
One vehicle unique from the rest was a Metro bus that had two snowmen hanging from its windshield wipers and large candy canes tied to the bike rack. At the front of the bus was the message, “Ho Ho Go Metro!”
There were more than floats and tricked-out rides, several other schools from the San Fernando Valley aside from San Fernando High entertained the crowd with their performances, including Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, Fenton Avenue Charter School, Pacoima Charter Elementary School and PUC Community Charter Elementary School.
LA Mission College didn’t miss out on the fun, either, as students, staff and President Armida Ornelas joined the festivities with their eagle mascot.
Latino artists and bands were not in short supply at the parade, each getting their moment of recognition from the crowd, including Sal Rodriguez, the drummer for the band War; Thee Midniters; DJ Eddie One; and Andy Vargas, the lead singer of Santana, who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the parade started.
One of the biggest crowd pleasers was the many charros and their horses that pranced along the street. Most of the charros were adults, though one was a young girl atop a small horse. Leading the equestrians were three riders carrying the flags of the United States and Mexico, as well as a piece of cloth depicting Our Lady of Guadalupe.
And last but certainly not least, Old Saint Nicholas ended the parade – not in his traditional red sleigh, but in a red convertible. He may not have been accompanied by any of his reindeer, but it didn’t lessen the amount of holiday joy he spread to the many families in attendance.