Marching bands, celebrities and floats will work their way through the heart of Tinseltown Sunday as part of the 2010 Hollywood Christmas Parade, which will be led by grand marshal Larry King.
About 60 Hollywood celebs are expected to take part in the procession, which begins at 6 p.m. at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Orange Drive. The parade will move east to Vine Street, then go south to Sunset Boulevard and turn west back to Orange.
Among those expected to take part are Susan Sullivan and Molly Quinn of "Castle"; Sarah Drew and Sara Ramirez of "Grey's Anatomy"; Noland Gould and Rico Rodriguez of "Modern Family"; Vivica A. Fox; Kevin Eubanks; Chris Harrison of "The Bachelor"; Donna Mills; Stefanie Powers; Atticus Shaffer of "The Middle"; Harry Hamlin; Lisa Rinna; Dick Van Dyke; Danny Trejo of "Machete"; Rip Taylor; and Boo Boo Stewart of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse".
However, the biggest and brightest star of the parade is, of course, Santa Claus.
The parade will also include 14 marching bands, eight equestrian units, floats and three giant balloons.
The parade will be taped for broadcast on the Hallmark Channel, which plans to air the event Dec. 10.
"ChiPs" star Erik Estrada and "World's Funniest Moments" host Laura McKenzie will serve as emcees, announcing the names of celebrities, marching bands, equestrian units, floats and the giant balloons, as they pass by.
Proceeds from the telecast will benefit Toys for Tots.
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The Hollywood Christmas Parade is a tradition that began in 1928. At its peak, it featured A-list celebrities like Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart, Sammy Davis Jr., George Burns and Gracie Allen.
It was what inspired Gene Autry to compose the classic song "Here Comes Santa Claus."
The parade's popularity waned over the years, and it was almost canceled in 2007, when the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce could not secure enough broadcast advertising to help offset the cost of the production.
The Los Angeles City Council stepped in and contributed $175,000 to keep the parade going. The city of Los Angeles continues to underwrite the parade.
More information is available on their website - (TheHollywoodChristmasParade.com).
The 411 on the Metro Lines
Metro will add capacity on its Red Line trains to accommodate people attending the Hollywood Christmas Parade.
Prior to the parade, trains will operate every 12 minutes to Hollywood from downtown Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. Following the parade, trains will depart Hollywood every 12 minutes. After 8 p.m., the service will be every 20 minutes, said Metro's Jose Ubaldo.
The last train to the San Fernando Valley will leave from Metro's Hollywood/Vine Station at 12:36 a.m. and the Hollywood/Highland Station at 12:38 a.m. -- allowing passengers to connect with the last Metro Orange Line bus, which will leave North Hollywood at 12:56 a.m.
The last train to downtown connecting to the Metro Blue Line will leave the Hollywood/Highland Station at 12:22 a.m. and the Hollywood/Vine Station at 12:24 a.m. The last train to downtown without the connection to the Metro Blue Line will leave the Hollywood/Highland Station at 1:02 a.m. and the Hollywood/Vine Station at 1:04 a.m.
Metro bus riders will be detoured due to street closures along the 2.3 miles of the parade route.
The Metro bus lines that will be affected after 1 p.m. Sunday are lines 2, 156, 180, 181, 207, 210, 212, 217, 222, 757 and 780. Service will return to normal after 11 p.m.
The 411 on Street Closures and Parking
Any vehicles in the way of Santa's sled will be towed in advance of Sunday's big parade in Hollywood.
Temporary "No Parking" signs are posted along the route, and police have warned that cars will start getting towed as early as 11 a.m. Sunday.
Parking is already off limits on Hollywood Boulevard between Orange Drive to Highland Avenue, and on Orange Drive between Hollywood Blvd. and the alley north of Hawthorn.
Starting today as early as 6 a.m., the following roads will be closed:
- Hollywood from LaBrea to Orange
- Hawthorn, DeLongpre and Fountain between LaBrea to Highland
- El Cerrito Place between Hollywood and Franklin
- Sycamore and Orange between Franklin and Fountain
- Sunset between LaBrea and Highland
- East side of LaBrea between Hollywood and Sunset Blvd.
- Highland between Franklin and Santa Monica
- Hollywood between Highland and Gower
- Vine between Franklin and Santa Monica
- Sunset between Highland and Gower
- Sunset between Highland and LaBrea
Some closings will come as late as 4 p.m., and some reopenings will occur as early as 7 p.m.
Towed cars will be taken to the official police garage at 1015 N. Mansfield Ave.
Some of the "Tow-Away, No Stopping" zones will be in effect until 6 a.m. Monday.
