Photo gallery: 66th La Jolla Christmas Parade marches through The Village

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Chuck Merriman drives the Old Black Goose carrying Santa Claus to round out the 66th annual La Jolla Christmas Parade on Dec. 4. The car is sponsored by the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club. (Elisabeth Frausto)

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Some parade entrants were accompanied by horses large and small. (Elisabeth Frausto)

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The Kelly family visits with Santa at the Kiwanis Club of La Jolla’s “Santa’s Village” on Wall Street. (Elisabeth Frausto)

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La Jolla author Orly Lobel and producer Tamlyn Brooke Shusterman, whose production of “The Outsiders” will be presented at La Jolla Playhouse next year, staffed one of the announcing tables on Girard Avenue. (Elisabeth Frausto)

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Parade grand marshal Nancy Warwick (Elisabeth Frausto)

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This troop of Daisies was among a large contingent of Girl Scouts marching in the La Jolla Christmas Parade. (Elisabeth Frausto)

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Mrs. Black Global Andrea McClew and Miss Black Global Destini Perkins wave to onlookers on Girard Avenue. (Elisabeth Frausto)

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San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (Elisabeth Frausto)

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San Diego police Lt. Rick Aguilar and Capt. Erwin Manansala (Elisabeth Frausto)

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Furry participants from the San Diego Golden Retriever Meetup Group go for a walk in the La Jolla parade. (Elisabeth Frausto)

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Stella Maris Academy’s float was chosen the Most Colorful. (Elisabeth Frausto)

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Participants in the Dan McKinney Family YMCA’s Adventure Camps stroll down Girard Avenue. (Elisabeth Frausto)

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A firetruck sponsored by La Jolla Sunrise Rotary sprays some winter white down the parade route. (Elisabeth Frausto)

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San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer (Elisabeth Frausto)

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Skateboarders accompany the Windansea Surf Club parade entry, which won the award for Most Community Spirit. (Elisabeth Frausto)

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San Diego City Councilman Joe LaCava and his wife, Lorene (Elisabeth Frausto)

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The La Jolla/Riford Library brings out a cheerier-than-usual Grinch. (Elisabeth Frausto)

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La Valencia Hotel General Manager Summer Shoemaker, the parade’s traditional marshal (Elisabeth Frausto)

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La Jolla High School marching band (Elisabeth Frausto)

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Dancers accompany the Best Overall entry from Ooh La La Dance Academy, which included a grand piano and singers. (Elisabeth Frausto)

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Parade cultural marshal Christie Mitchell, executive director of the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library (Elisabeth Frausto)

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The award for Most Holiday Spirit went to Erling Rohde Plumbing. (Elisabeth Frausto)

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La Jolla Town Council President Jerri Hunt and past president James Rudolph (Elisabeth Frausto)

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Carrying flags and the Girl Scouts banner are Troop 3244 Cadettes (from left) Michel Lopez, Paulina Paredes, Sia Rastogi, Julia Vialle, Linnea Brandes and Nora Cleary. (Jennifer Paredes)

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A top-hatted stilt walker gives tall tidings for the holidays. (Leila Armstrong)

By Elisabeth FraustoStaff Writer

Dec. 5, 2022 Updated 6:43 PM PT

In what chairwoman Ann Kerr Bache called the largest-ever La Jolla Christmas Parade, thousands of spectators lined Girard Avenue and Prospect Street to watch marching bands, pageant queens, parade marshals, civic leaders and more in the 66th annual edition Dec. 4.

The event, themed “Grand Ole Christmas: Celebrating La Jolla’s History,” featured Nancy Warwick, owner of the 71-year-old Warwick’s bookstore, as grand marshal, with several others serving as honorary marshals in various categories.

Several parade entries won awards: Best Overall went to Ooh La La Dance Academy; Most Community Spirit, Windansea Surf Club; Most Original, Ark Antiques; Most Holiday Spirit, Erling Rohde Plumbing; Santa’s Favorite, San Diego French American School; Most Colorful, Stella Maris Academy; and Most Creative, All Hallows Academy.

The traditional accompanying Holiday Festival took place along Wall Street, with a focus on arts education.

The Kiwanis Club of La Jolla presented a “Santa’s Village” with Santa Claus welcoming 513 visitors, and an “underwater carnival” in which children could learn about whale behavior.

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Yiddishland California and the La Jolla/Riford Library also offered activities at the festival.

Kerr Bache said parade organizers are still seeking donations to cover the costs of this year’s event and will need to secure funding to ensure a parade next year.

For more information, visit ljparade.com.

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Photo gallery: 66th La Jolla Christmas Parade marches through The Village

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