Festive costumes and Latin influences nearly always lighten up parades in Santa Maria on the Central California Coast.

Are you looking for a parade on the coast? Though the Central Coast of California (Santa Barbara & San Luis Obispo Counties) doesn’t host the MOST parades, there are plenty of events to attend and reasons to get out and enjoy California nights. From the Danish style celebrations in Solvang called Julefest that carries Old World traditions to the Santa Maria parade that combines Central Coast’s heritage with Hispanic flair, the holiday parades are old fashioned celebrations and highlights to the Christmas season. It’s a great time to visit these charming cities that haven’t let rapid growth change them too much.

Upcoming:

• GROVER BEACH Magical Holiday Memories Holiday Parade Saturday, December 3, 2011, 10 a.m. Parade Route: Begins at 16th Street, travels west down Grand Avenue and finishes at the Ramona Garden Park Center

• LOMPOC Children’s Holiday Parade Friday, December 2, 2011 at 6 p.m. The parade will begin at H Street and Pine Avenue, traveling south on H Street, turning west on Ocean Avenue, and south to I Street, concluding in the city parking lot on the corner of Cypress and I streets.
• SANTA MARIA Christmas Parade of Lights December 3, 2011 at 5:20 p.m. the parade will hit Broadway, with more than 100 entries scheduled to participate. The procession will travel from Stowell Road the Santa Maria Town Center.
• SOLVANG Julefest Parade December 3, 2011 at 11 a.m. The procession travels westbound on Mission Drive from Mission Santa Ines to Fourth Place, then east on Copenhagen Drive to Alisal Road and back to Mission Drive.