Black History Parade Comes of Age in Santa Ana : Celebration: The crowd swells to 20,000 people enjoying bands, drill teams, singers, horses and actors.

Marching bands, snappy drill teams--even a gospel choir that brought the crowd to its feet--paraded down Main Street on Saturday in recognition of Black History Month.

“Get up, if you’re on the Lord’s side!” bellowed members of New Spirit Baptist Church as they clapped and grooved past what officials estimated to be 20,000 curbside spectators, many of whom joined the singing.

The mood was festive during the county’s 12th annual Black History Parade, with the constant beat of drums, Hollywood celebrities, drill teams, horses, cotton candy and a bevy of U.S. flags. While bicycle-powered clowns pedaled and waved their way along the downtown parade route, Girl Scouts held hands and sang songs about friendship. Several Santa Ana City Council members also rode in the motorcade.

Helen Shipp, a co-founder and organizer of the annual celebration, said she is happy with the turnout and participation by celebrities and county community leaders.

“It seems to be the place where we know once a year many friends will come together in unity,” she said. “It’s like a gathering of old friends, commemorating together and letting the world know blacks have contributed a lot of things to our great (country).”

Shipp said the event, which started out as a small neighborhood parade, has become more and more popular and this year was co-sponsored by the city, the Orange County Black Historical Commission, Wiley L. Kimbrough Lodge 91 and the Prince Hall Masons. She said she looks forward to the day when attendance reaches 50,000.

“We get more celebrities every year and our crowd gets larger,” she said. “It’s not just (for blacks); we get a mixture of people.”

Pat Burcham of Garden Grove attended the parade for the first time this year with her children. “It’s really nice,” she said. “I didn’t think it would be this big.”

While many celebrities simply waved at the large crowd from cars, American Gladiator Rico Costintino whooped it up by waving a U.S. flag and jumping out of a motorcade to shake hands with onlookers.

The parade participants rode in antique Thunderbirds and an assortment of late-model convertible sports cars. Willard Pugh, who achieved widespread recognition playing Harpo in the movie, “The Color Purple,” was the grand marshal.

Other VIPs included former world heavyweight boxing champion Ken Norton and more than a dozen actors, such as Ken Sagoes (the film, “Nightmare on Elm Street”); Shaver Ross (TV’s “Different Strokes”), and Rugg Williams and John Wesley (TV’s “In the Heat of the Night”).

Wesley said he was flattered to be asked to participate, calling the parade “a celebration of our achievements and our history.”

Many parade-goers said this year’s promenade--with bands, firetrucks, horses, antique cars and balloons--was special.

“It’s been one of the better ones,” said Robin Glover, 15, of Orange. “Last year they didn’t have as many marching bands.”

Sharon Gibbs of Santa Ana attended the parade for the first time and said she was impressed. She said the event fills many Orange County blacks with a sense of pride.

“It’s important because it helps us get in touch with (our) culture,” she said. “And it’s a good way to celebrate Black History Month.”

Lupe Mancilla, 17, of Santa Ana said the parade allows people of different ethnic backgrounds to exchange a part of their heritage.

“I liked the music and the dances and different forms of dress,” she said. “And I really liked the bands.”