LAGUNA NIGUEL : City Seeks Sign-Ups for Christmas Parade

Don’t break out the tinsel and mistletoe just yet, but if you’re thinking about participating in the Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade and Festival, the city wants you to sign up now.

As the summer heat climbs to its peak, the city has announced that it will sponsor, for the fourth straight year, the parade along Crown Valley Parkway between Nueva Vista Drive and Niguel Road on Dec. 11. The city expects 15,000 spectators to line the route.

Already scheduled to participate in the parade are the U.S. Marine Corps mounted color guard from Barstow and the 3rd Marine Air Wing Band from the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. Also planning to strut their stuff are high school marching bands, equestrian units, oversized helium-balloon characters and community organizations.

This year the city is adding an all-day festival to accompany the parade. Produced by Mark Conte Productions, the festival will offer entertainment, concessions, rides and holiday arts and crafts.

Groups wanting to participate in the parade, businesses interested in sponsoring it, and people thinking about volunteering to help on parade day should contact Kerry Bartelt at Laguna Niguel City Hall, (714) 362-4300.