Floats, dignitaries, scout troops and more will make their way down Honolulu Avenue for the annual Christmas parade.

By Mary O’KEEFE

It all began in the 1950s when one of MGM’s most popular movie stars, Dennis Morgan, got some of his famous friends together for a holiday celebration and, on horseback, rode down Honolulu Avenue. The parade was popular with locals and continued until Morgan moved away and the parade came to an end. Then in 1976 “Mr. Montrose” Frank Roberts brought the parade back to the community.

For the last 43 years the parade has maintained its small town character with community service clubs and youth groups, drill teams and bands all marching, and waving, down Honolulu Avenue.

The parade is on Saturday, Dec. 7 and starts at 6:10 p.m. Santa will fly over in the Glendale Police Dept. helicopter at 6:20 p.m.

This year there are about 120 entries, according to Montrose Parade Association member Chris Waldheim.

Montrose Parade Association is a non-profit organization that is supported by residents as well as businesses and city officials.

“The Montrose Christmas Parade is different from other parades because it is run by volunteers and it focuses on the best parts of life in the Glendale-Montrose-Crescenta Valley area. The parade brings local dignitaries, bands, schools, scouts, non-profits and local businesses together for a great kick-off to the holiday season,” Waldheim said.

Each year one of the signs that parade time is near is the lawn chairs and blankets lining the grass along Honolulu Avenue; however, this year there are some new rules that have been set on the permit from the City of Glendale.

“Our permit requires that chairs and blankets not be set out until the day of the parade. Stores and restaurants in Montrose are open all day so sidewalks and crosswalks should be kept clear until closer to parade time,” said Cheryl Davis, president of the association.

The parade does require street closures, along with temporary no parking signs, which will go into effect at 3 p.m. on Dec. 7.

The parade perimeter is Broadview Drive on the south, Florencita Avenue on the north, La Crescenta Avenue on the west to the Honolulu Avenue/Montrose Avenue/Verdugo Road intersection to the east.

Traffic patterns will also be affected.

“Due to the parade disassembly at the intersection of Honolulu/Montrose/Verdugo, all southbound traffic on Montrose Avenue must either turn left onto Waltonia Drive or right onto Florencita. In addition, westbound traffic on Verdugo Road, coming from the Glendale [2] Freeway, must turn right at Honolulu/Montrose/Verdugo [intersection],” Davis said.

Several parking lots in Montrose will be closed to the public allowing a staging area for parade volunteers and those participating in the parade.

Davis advised those attending the parade to carpool, rideshare or walk due to limited parking and road closures. Those participating in the parade should be given instructions on where to meet and where to disband at the end of the parade route, either turning north or south.

The Montrose Christmas Parade, at its core, is a celebration of everything and everyone that make the community in and around Crescenta Valley such a special place to live and work.

The parade is filmed by the City of Glendale’s television station GTV6, and shown on the city’s station on various dates. Rick Dinger and Jane Kane will be back this year for their 15th year as parade announcers.

The Montrose Christmas Parade is funded through donations. For those who would like to support the parade visit montrosechristmasparade.com/supporters.

  Leonard Coutin, Mary Okeefe