Click here for the Spanish version
Congratulations to the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club for putting on another memorable Goleta Old Town Holiday Parade! It took approximately 100 volunteers and a total of more than 1,000 volunteer hours to pull off this well-attended and festive event that took place this past Saturday night, December 7th. Thousands of people lined Hollister Avenue on this beautiful evening with new holiday lights lining the parade route. The spectators were entertained by more than 80 parade entries and 1,700 participants. Some of the highlights included an18-foot Snowman and an appearance by Santa.
The Earl Marion Hill, Jr. Family was honored as the parade grand marshals, celebrating their roots in the Goleta Valley that go back to 1874 when George Washington Hill settled here. The City of Goleta was pleased to participate once again this year. Check out this video clip showing the Mayor, Councilmembers, the Goleta Valley Library Bookvan and www.GoodLandGoodShopping.com banner cruising the parade route.
Thank you to Kevin Haeberle from the Community Hot Rod Project who helped locate and organize the vintage cars for elected officials in the parade. The drivers and their cars included:
- Efrem Reynozo with a 1957 Silver Chevy Bel Air driving Mayor Perotte
- Kevin Haeberle with a 1938 Ford Deluxe Convertible (Milpas Motors) driving Mayor Pro Tempore Luz Reyes-Martín
- Wally Schelvis with a 1988 Burgundy Oldsmobile Delta driving Councilmember Stuart Kasdin
- David Guzik with a 1964 Light Blue Ford Falcon driving Councilmember Kyle Richards
- Kay Lee Ahnemann with a 1995 Silver Pontiac Firebird Trans Am driving Councilmember James Kyriaco
- John Sween with a 1987 Mercedes Benz 560 SL (Milpas Motors) driving Assemblymember Gregg Hart
- John Finseth with a 1967 Chevy Corvette driving Santa Barbara County 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann
Another highlight this year was the return of the City’s Window Decorating contest for businesses located along the parade route. The City has a panel of three judges deciding the winner but wants to know who do you think is the best for the first-ever People’s Choice Award? We encourage you to go to our social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and check out photos of the window fronts. You can also view all of the photos online here. Comment on your favorite or send an email to PIO@CityofGoleta.org by midnight tomorrow, December 10th. Thanks to Fuel Depot for providing free car washes to the winners who will be announced Wednesday, December 11th. Check our social media (@cityofgoleta) to find out who won!
Thank you to everyone who participated and attended the Holiday Parade and who also participated in the window decorating contest. Thank you for helping to spread joy to our community this holiday season.
San Marcos High School cheerleaders | Credit: Courtesy 
Parade organizer Ed Holdren with the Great Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club | Credit: Courtesy 
City Council, City staff and volunteers holding the Happy Holidays banner | Credit: Courtesy 
Parade-goers | Credit: Courtesy 
Parade entry | Credit: Courtesy
