Camarillo Marches Into the Season : Holidays: Politicians and residents turn out for the annual parade. One Santa gives his final ‘Ho, ho, ho.’

Hundreds of Camarillo residents transformed Las Posas Road into a holiday wonderland on Saturday, complete with marching bands, twirling dancers, princesses and elves, all celebrating the city’s 33rd annual Christmas parade.

In a high-spirited procession, participants rode on white and black Arabian horses, waved from elaborate floats and sang Christmas carols, while local politicians including Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley), state Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) and Camarillo Mayor Michael Morgan waved to residents from antique cars.

A tradition that began in 1961, the parade was organized by the Camarillo Pageant Assn. and the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District. An estimated 5,000 people from all over the county lined the parade route.

“I really think this is the best Christmas parade in the county,” said Vina Henschel of Oxnard. “Every year I go to several parades, and this one seems to always run smoothly, without any delays between participants.”

The parade, which began at the corner of Temple Street and Las Posas Road, was led by an Elvis impersonator wearing a glitzy gold outfit and riding in a blue 1957 Ford Thunderbird. He drew shouts and applause from spectators crowding curbs along the route, which wound through a residential neighborhood.

“Hey, Elvis, we love you!” shouted an excited Lori Lory of Santa Paula. “I came to the parade just because of him.”

In reality, the Elvis wanna-be was Raymond Michael Hebel, a Moorpark teacher, who said he was accustomed to having his fans follow him.

“I perform all over Southern California and I have been in this parade for 22 years,” Hebel said. “After awhile, you know all the faces around.”

For some residents, though, the highlight of the 2 1/2-hour parade was the marching bands--all 20 of them.

“This parade always has the best marching bands of all parades in the county,” said native Camarillo resident Philip Villa, 38. “I love them because they add so much in creating a Christmas spirit.”

But Villa’s brother Aaron, 36, who attended the parade for the first time in 12 years, said the bands were a lot smaller than they were years ago.

“I’m really surprised with the size of the bands--they are half the size they used to be,” said Aaron who flew from Sacramento Friday night in time to grab a prime seat for viewing the parade.

But what the bands may have lacked in size they made up for in flamboyance, precision and enthusiasm.

San Diego County’s Scripps Ranch High School Rising Star Band embraced “The Nutcracker” as its theme, parading as Russian dancers, mice soldiers, princes and princesses.

The Thousand Oaks High School Lancer Band and Color Guard drew applause and cheers from the crowd, as did the hometown band from Camarillo High.

For 7-year-old Heather Wisuri, a float entitled “The Magic of a Lion Family Christmas” gave meaning to the parade.

Standing on the curb, Heather stared at the float, where children were gathered before a fireplace in a make-believe living room. On the rooftop, a mechanical Santa in a sleigh pulled by four reindeer picked gifts from the clouds and threw them down the chimney.

“It’s just like the movies,” Heather said. “And it’s real pretty.”

During the awards ceremony after the parade, 78-year-old Les J. Buzzelle who has portrayed Santa Claus in Camarillo’s parade for 33 years, announced that he was retiring.

“One last time, “ he told the audience after Morgan, Camarillo’s mayor, awarded him with a plaque. “Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas.”