‘Winter Wonderland’ Is Theme of Parade

North Valley residents are looking forward to a Winter Wonderland on Sunday, although the weather service is not forecasting snow.

Instead, the 13th annual Granada Hills Holiday Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting will kick off with an expected 3,500 participants.

“This helps ring in the holidays,” said John Ciccarelli, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored parade since its beginning in 1983.

“Granada Hills is known as the Valley’s friendliest town,” he said, referring to the chamber’s motto, “most neighborly.”

“And this helps build a strong relationship among residents and business people. It’s a very nice tradition.”

The parade--with a snowy Winter Wonderland theme this year--focuses on young people and youth activities, as evidenced by the many Scout troops, marching bands, drill teams and sports organizations planning to participate.

Beverly Mitchell, who plays Lucy Camden on the new TV series “7th Heaven,” will be the parade’s grand marshal.

Many of the 160 entrants expected to participate have been working on their presentations, floats and costumes for months in anticipation of their trip down Chatsworth Street, Ciccarelli said.

“It’s a different type of parade in a sense that a lot of young people wouldn’t have a chance to march in a parade otherwise,” he said.

Sunday’s parade will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the recreation center on Petit Avenue and Chatsworth Street, then continue west to Zelzah Avenue, where it will turn south toward Granada Hills High School. It will disband at the high school on Kingsbury Road and Zelzah Avenue.

Festivities will conclude with Christmas carols and the annual tree-lighting ceremony at 4:45 p.m., where organizers will illuminate what they say is the “largest living Christmas tree in the San Fernando Valley.”

For information, call the chamber at (818) 368-3235.