Locals gear up for Montrose Christmas Parade

For the 39th straight year, the Montrose Christmas Parade will coast through the heart of the quaint downtown area Saturday, Dec. 5.

Kicking off at 6 p.m. on Honolulu Avenue at Rosemont Avenue, the parade route will trek down for a mile to Verdugo Road and feature more than 100 entries.

Several groups of horse riders will be part of the event again as well as 14 marching bands from schools such as Glendale and Hoover high schools as well as 700 Scouts.

This year’s grand marshal will be ABC7 reporter Rob Hayes and VIP guests will include Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Glendale), State Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) and L.A. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich.

“I think people in this community know that you’re either in the parade or you’re watching the parade,” said Cheryl Davis, parade coordinator. “And I recently discovered there’s a third category: you’re volunteering to help work the parade. Without volunteers, we couldn’t do it.”

The parade is put together by the Montrose Christmas Parade Assn.

She said hundreds of volunteers dedicate their time throughout the year leading up to the parade, which typically draws up to 25,000 spectators, viewing from the sidewalk.

While there has yet to be snow in the parade’s four decades, there has been rain in two of three previous years Davis was at the reigns.

“I’m really hoping for good weather,” she said. “It will not rain on our parade as we always joke.”

For the first time in about five years, GTV6 will be taping and replaying the parade on television, Davis said.

Parade organizers also encourage attendees arrive early and to bring chairs and blankets.

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Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com

Twitter: @ArinMikailian