Gary Moskowitz
Light rain and cooler temperatures didn't keep local and area
residents from getting into the holiday spirit this weekend at the
27th annual Montrose Christmas Parade.
Eric Oh, a seventh-grader at Rosemont Middle School, was ecstatic
to march in the parade with the school's band, despite getting rain
all over his clarinet.
"It was kind of cold, but really fun," said Eric, 12. "I just like the feeling of it all. Everybody's happy and stuff."
More than 130 parade entries made their way down the 2200, 2300
and 2400 blocks of Honolulu Avenue in Montrose on Saturday evening.
Parade entries included local and area school bands, cheerleaders
and drill teams, local Cub Scout troops, city officials, floats,
classic cars and a Santa Claus fly-over provided by the Glendale
Police Department's helicopter. Equestrian units and Glendale's
police and fire departments also rode in the parade.
Police did not know how many people attended the parade, but said
the crowd was slightly less than last year because of the rain. About
20,000 spectators attended the 2002 parade, according to reports.
Spectators sat in chairs and on blankets, wearing jackets and
holding umbrellas to keep dry during the parade. Some people watched
from inside Honolulu Avenue shops and others stood under storefront
overhangs.
Tujunga resident Robert Fridwell didn't mind standing along the
side of the street to get a close look at the performers.
"Santa Claus flying overhead, I really liked that," said Fridwell,
70. "This is my third [Montrose] parade. I liked the drumming groups,
too."
Many children attending the parade wore Santa Claus hats with
flashing red lights on them and carried neon glow sticks.
Margaret Palanca, a Glendale High School sophomore, marched in the
parade with the school's junior varsity cheerleading squad.
"It was so much fun, looking at the audience and seeing their
faces and how happy they were," said Margaret, 15.
