Holiday Warmth : Granada Hills Parade Basks in Mild Weather--and Christmas Spirit

There were reindeer and elves, Christmas trees and even snowmen all over Chatsworth Street on Sunday afternoon.

Sure, the characters were mostly children wearing costumes, and the sunny Southern California day guaranteed that real snow would stay far away. But that did not seem to ruin any of the fun at the 12th annual Granada Hills Holiday Parade.

The two-mile parade route was lined with holiday-spirited spectators. Many wore Santa hats, while others donned faux reindeer antlers to go with their T-shirts, shorts and “Ho Ho Ho” buttons.

Mark Raymer of Northridge was at the parade with his wife, Kathy, whose red sweatshirt read: “I believe in Santa.”

“I think it’s great,” Raymer said of the parade and the weather, which was free of the snow and below-freezing temperatures that had seized other parts of the country. “I think the people back East are dying.”

The parade featured all the holiday staples. There were marching bands and drill teams, floats that looked like sleighs, equestrian teams, clowns, firetrucks and Brownie and Cub Scout troops from the San Fernando Valley and beyond.

Dignitaries at the 2 1/2-hour event included state Sen. Cathie Wright, Assemblywoman Paula Boland and County Supervisor Mike Antonovich. The grand marshal was 7-year-old Ross Bagley, a co-star on the television sitcom “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

Mona Wooden, president of the Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the parade, said there were more than 4,600 participants and more than 160 entries--including floats, cars, bands and others.

Wooden said an estimated 20,000 spectators watched all or part of the parade. The goal of the celebration was to encourage community unity and family togetherness while focusing on youth, she said.

“We feel really good,” she said. “This year is the largest parade ever. We are so pleased to offer something that is community-oriented.”

The day’s events included a Christmas tree lighting near the end of the parade route, which ran along Chatsworth Street from Petit Avenue to Lindley Avenue.

Along the route there were spots where the crowd was fuller and more enthusiastic than others. Some spectators applauded loudly, hooted or blew plastic horns as the parade moved along, while others watched quietly.

Robert Patrick of North Hollywood, whose 11-year-old daughter Kia marched in the parade, watched with family friend Jackie Hall, 16.

“I’m really into the children,” said Patrick, who has been more impressed by other parades over the years. But he added, “Whatever makes them happy makes me happy.”

Several drill team members from Columbus Middle School in Canoga Park, who were among those who added Santa hats to their uniforms, felt the event was worthwhile even though they became hot and uncomfortable as the afternoon temperature approached 80.

“Everyone likes to see everything and everyone likes to see Santa Claus,” said Cynthia Troche, 13.

Nancie Crannell of Granada Hills was sitting by the parade route wearing antlers, red and green ribbons in her hair, a Christmas button and a T-shirt boasting a likeness of Santa Claus.

“We love it,” Crannell said of her family. “Every year we look forward to it. It’s a big deal.”

Crannell also said she wouldn’t mind a cooler or even a white Christmas.

“Anybody who’s been in the sun all the time would want a white Christmas,” she said with a laugh. “If we had a cold Christmas, it’d be a thrill.”