Tired shoppers will have the chance to ease on down the road in an open air, horse-drawn carriage that travels from Andersen's Pet Shop at the east end of the shopping park to Wells Fargo Bank at the west end. The rides will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is no cost to ride the carriage.
Kids will have the chance to see what Santa and Mrs. Claus are up to as they stroll up and down Honolulu Avenue, waving to passersby. On Saturdays, pony rides will also be available.
On Sundays, the Montrose Harvest Market will feature 45 food and produce booths selling everything from antiques and collectibles to toys and arts and crafts. During the holiday season fresh poinsettias will be available. For the children, the Harvest Market will also feature an inflatable bounce house, an obstacle course, tiny tot's gym, as well as a country petting zoo.
When the sun sets, it doesn't mean that the fun along Honolulu Avenue is over. A million Christmas lights and hanging ornaments will brighten the Avenue, guiding visitors to the variety of dining places that the area is becoming known for.
On Dec. 2, the entire town is invited to come to cheer on the Montrose-Glendale Annual Christmas Parade. The parade was started in the 1950s by the late movie star and local resident Dennis Morgan. It was reinvented in the 1970s by Montrose merchant Frank "Mr. Montrose" Roberts as an evening event. The parade has evolved into a much anticipated holiday tradition that grows each year. This year, Montrose Shopping Park President John Drayman has further enriched the occasion by booking more equestrian groups than ever and by securing film star Mickey Rooney as the Grand Marshall. The parade begins at 6 p.m. and travels from Orangedale Avenue eastward on Honolulu Avenue, ending at Verdugo Road.
Robin Goldsworthy and Mike Lawler of the Historical Society of the Crescenta contributed to this story
