Jeremy Renner as Grand Marshal and Mario Lopez to Receive Humanitarian Award;

Street Closures and Parking Restrictions for the 92nd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade on December 1, 2024

Hollywood, CA — Get ready to ring in the holiday season with glitz, glamour, and festive cheer! The 92nd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade Supporting Marine Toys for Tots returns on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at 6:00 PM, bringing a dazzling celebration to the streets of Hollywood. This beloved tradition, filled with star-studded appearances, breathtaking performances, and larger-than-life holiday spirit, will once again light up Hollywood Boulevard, Vine Street, and Sunset Boulevard.

Event Highlights:

• Grand Marshal: Academy Award-nominated actor, musician, and philanthropist Jeremy Renner, joined by his daughter, Ava Berlin Renner.
• Hosts: Beloved television personalities Dean Cain, Laura McKenzie, Montel Williams, and Elizabeth Stanton.
• National Telecast: The parade will be taped live and aired on The CW Network on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 8:00 PM ET/PT.

What to Expect:

Prepare for an evening of magic as the parade features:

• 90 Celebrities and VIPs including Mario Lopez, Denise Richards, Raven-Symoné, and cast members from Wicked and The Sandlot.
• 12 Award-Winning Marching Bands such as the United States Marine Corps Band and Los Angeles Catholic Schools Band.
• 13 Enchanting Character Balloons, including Santa Grinch and Cat in the Hat.
• 5 Themed Floats showcasing holiday spirit, cultural pride, and, of course, Santa Claus!
• Live Performances by artists like Clay Aiken, Laura Bryna, and Anna Azerli.

Adding to the celebration, performances will include songs like O Come All Ye Faithful, Do You Hear What I Hear?, and Broadway hits from Wicked. Pre-parade entertainment begins at 5:30 PM, with grandstand bleachers opening at 4:00 PM for ticketed attendees.

Honoring Legends:

This year’s parade pays tribute to two icons:

• William “Bill” Frederick Lomas, the longest-serving producer of the Hollywood Christmas Parade, lovingly remembered as “The Parade King.”
• Louis Gossett Jr., Oscar-winning actor and 1994 Grand Marshal, recognized for his enduring contributions to the parade and the arts.

Parade Route and Seating:

The parade’s 3.2-mile route begins at Hollywood Boulevard and Orange Street, traveling east to Vine Street and back along Sunset Boulevard. Free curbside seating is available, but arrive early for the best spots!

Giving Back:

Parade attendees are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to support Marine Toys for Tots. Donations can also be dropped off at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (7000 Hollywood Boulevard) through December 15, 2024.

Celebrate the Season Together:

For nearly a century, the Hollywood Christmas Parade has been a cherished tradition, captivating millions with its unique blend of Hollywood glamour and heartfelt holiday joy. Don’t miss your chance to join this magical evening and kickstart the holidays in style.

For more details, visit the parade’s official website at www.thehollywoodchristmasparade.org or call the Hollywood Christmas Parade Hotline at 1-833-PARADE1 (1-833-727-2331).

Follow them on social media: Facebook

Let the festive fun begin!

About The National and International Telecasts of the Parade:
This year’s 92nd Anniversary of the Hollywood Christmas Parade Supporting Marine Toys for Tots in the streets of Hollywood, CA on December 1, 2024 will be taped for a national telecast primetime telecast on the parade on The CW Network on Saturday, December 14, 2024 airing from 8:00 -10:00 p.m. ET/PT.  The parade will also be telecast internationally on the American Forces Network during the holiday season, and be available to be viewed on the Popstar! App.  The telecasts will also include performances by Ventriloquist and Impressionist, Terry Fator, singing “Christmas In Las Vegas;” Elliot Yamin, Third Place winner on Season Five of “American Idol” in 2006 singing “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year;” Jon Secada, the two-time Grammy Award-winner, singing “Feliz Navidad,” The Jet Velocity All-Star Holiday Band 2024 including Scott Page (Pink Floyd), Anne King (Billie Eilish), Stephen Perkins (Janes Addiction), Janea Ebs and Jason Ebs (Joe Cocker, Peter Criss, Swaggermouth), Adam Kury (Candlebox), Roberta Freeman (Guns & Roses), Teddy Zig-Zag (Slash’s Blues Ball) singing “Hollywood At Christmas” and AVA singing “Reindeer Rebellion.”

More About The Hollywood Christmas Parade:
2024 marks the 92nd Anniversary of the Hollywood Christmas Parade, an American tradition.  The live parade is produced by Associated Television International and presented in association with The City of Los Angeles on the streets of Hollywood, CA.  This year’s celebration will be held on Sunday, December 1, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Since 1928 the live Hollywood Christmas Parade has been a loved and cherished annual holiday tradition enjoyed by Angelenos, as well as by millions watching the televised airings of the parade nationally on The CW Network and internationally on Armed Forces Network around the world.  The only exceptions were during World War II from 1942 to 1944 when the parade wasn’t presented, and in 2020, when a highlights telecast of parades over the last 10 years was presented, due to the COVID 19 global pandemic.  The parade was then presented live again in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and returns this year to celebrate its 92nd Anniversary live in the streets of Hollywood, CA!
 
Grand Marshals who have appeared in The Hollywood Christmas Parade during the last 91 years include:  Jeanette Loft, Joe E. Brown, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Bob Hope, Art Linklater, Lawrence Welk, Charlton Heston, Dale Evans and Roy Rogers, Danny Thomas, Mary Pickford, Dick Van Dyke, Robert Vaughn, Pat Boone, Fred McMurray, Buddy Ebsen, Walter Matthau, Ernest Borgnine, Johnny Mathis, General Robert E. Cushman, Jr., John Wayne, General Omar Bradley, James Stewart, Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood, Ron Howard, George Peppard, Michael Landon, William Shatner, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Tony Danza, Sammy Davis, Jr., Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Arnold and Roseanne Barr, Bob and Dolores Hope, Louis Gossett, Jr., David Hasselhoff, Robert Urich, Beau Bridges, Dennis Hopper and Frankie Muñiz, Peter Fonda, Mickey Rooney, Johnny Grant, Magic Johnson, Antonio Villaraigosa, George López, Bob Barker, Joy and Regis Philbin, Susan Lucci, Larry King, Marie Osmond, Joe Mantegna, Buzz Aldrin, Stevie Wonder, Penn & Teller, Olivia Newton-John, Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, Nancy O’Dell, Mario Lopez, Sheryl Underwood, Danny Trejo and Colonel Paris D. Davis.
 
The Hollywood Christmas Parade was originally called the Santa Claus Lane Parade.  When the American performer Gene Autry, who was known as The Singing Cowboy, was riding on his horse down Hollywood Boulevard in the 1946 Santa Claus Lane Parade, he heard young parade spectators in the crowd exclaim, “Here comes Santa Claus!”  This incident became the inspiration for Autry to compose the traditional perennial Christmas holiday song, “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane),” which he co-wrote with Oakley Haldeman in 1949. Autry first recorded the song in 1947.  The song was released as a single by Columbia Records, and became a #5 country and #9 pop hit at the time.  Gene Autry is the only celebrity to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one in each of the five categories, Motion Pictures, Radio, Recording, Television and Live Theater.  Today the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard at Highland Avenue, part of the Hollywood Christmas Parade route, is named Gene Autry Square.

The live parade features 5,000 participants, and will be taped for multiple nationwide network television broadcasts to be aired during the holiday season.  The parade will travel along a 3.2 mile U-shaped route starting at Orange Street and Hollywood Boulevard traveling east on Hollywood Boulevard to Vine Street, turning south on Vine Street to Sunset Boulevard, and then turning west on Sunset Boulevard traveling back to Orange Street.
 
The Origin and Evolution of the Marine Toys for Tots Program 77 Years Ago:
Toys for Tots began in 1947 as the brainchild of Marine Corps Reserve Major
Bill Hendricks. Actually it was his wife, Diane Hendricks, who was the real inspiration.  She had a few handcrafted dolls and asked Bill to deliver them to an agency that supports children in need.
 
When Bill Hendricks reported back to his wife that he could not find such an organization, she instructed him to “start one!”  Major Hendricks and the Marines in his reserve unit in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys in 1947.  Seeing such successful community engagement in 1947, the Commandant directed all Marine Reserve Sites to implement a Toys for Tots campaign, transforming it into a national community action program in 1948.
 
Bill Hendrick’s civilian job was Director of Public Relations at Warner Brothers Studios.  He had many celebrity friends who he asked to help support the newly created Marine Toys for Tots Program.  As a personal friend and as a favor to Bill Hendricks, Walt Disney designed the first Toys for Tots poster, which included a miniature three-car train that was subsequently adopted as the Toys for Tots logo.
 

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity, was established in 1991 at the behest of the Marine Corps to help run and support the Marine Toys for Tots Program.  The Foundation raises funds, purchases toys, provides promotional and support materials, manages all funds raised and donated, solicits corporate support, educates the public, and handles day-to-day operations.  Presently, the Marine Toys for Tots Program distributes an average of 18 million toys to 7 million less fortunate children annually.  To learn more, please visit:  https://toysfortots.org

The 92nd Anniversary of the Hollywood Christmas Parade Supporting Marine Toys for Tots to be held on the streets of Hollywood, CA on Sunday, December 1, 2024:

ROAD CLOSURES, HIGHWAY CLOSURES & PARKING RESTRICTIONS:
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) will collaboratively enforce road closures and parking restrictions around Tinseltown to assist with The 92nd Anniversary of the Hollywood Christmas Parade Supporting Marine Toys for Tots.  Please observe parking restriction warning signs.  Impounded vehicles will be towed to the Official Police Garage (OPG) at Hollywood Tow located at 1015 N. Mansfield Avenue.  Motorists are advised to check the OPG website at www.opglaviic.com to find their vehicle.  To retrieve impounded vehicles call either 311 or Hollywood Tow at (323) 466-8583. The following locations and restrictions will be enforced to support the Hollywood Christmas Parade activities.

Tow-Away No Stopping, Midnight Sat., Nov. 30 to 6 a.m. Mon., Dec. 2:

• Hollywood Boulevard between Highland Avenue and Orange Drive
• Orange Drive between Hollywood Boulevard and Hawthorn Avenue
• Sycamore Avenue between Hollywood Boulevard and south of 1736 N Sycamore Ave (instead of Franklin Avenue)
  

Tow-Away No Stopping, 6 a.m. to Midnight, Sun., Dec. 1:

• Hollywood Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Orange Drive
  

Tow-Away No Stopping, 11 a.m. to Midnight, Sun., Dec. 1:

• Hollywood Boulevard between Highland Avenue and Vine Street
• Vine Street between Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard
• Sunset Boulevard between Vine Street and Highland Avenue
• Franklin Avenue between La Brea Avenue and Highland Avenue (not closed, but restricted for parking)
• Santa Monica Boulevard between West Hollywood city limit and Gower Street
• Highland Avenue between Franklin Avenue and Sunset Boulevard
• Cahuenga Boulevard between Yucca Street and Hollywood Boulevard (west side of street only)
• Yucca Street between Gower Street and Argyle Street (north side of street only)
  

Tow-Away No Stopping, 11 a.m. to Midnight, Sun., Dec. 1:

• La Brea Avenue between Franklin Avenue and Fountain Avenue
• Cherokee Avenue between Hollywood Boulevard and Selma Avenue
• Hawthorn Avenue between La Brea Avenue and Highland Avenue
• Sunset Boulevard between Highland Avenue and La Brea Avenue
• De Longpre Avenue between Highland Avenue and La Brea Avenue
• Fountain Avenue between Highland Avenue and La Brea Avenue
• Lanewood Avenue between La Brea Avenue and Orange Drive
• El Cerrito Place between Franklin Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard
• Sycamore Avenue between Sunset Boulevard and Fountain Avenue
• Sycamore Avenue between Franklin Avenue and Hawthorn Avenue
• Orange Drive between Franklin Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard
• Orange Drive between Hawthorn Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard
• Mansfield Avenue between De Longpre Avenue and Fountain Avenue
  

Street Closures:
Midnight Saturday, November 30:

• Hollywood Boulevard between Highland Avenue and Orange Drive
• Orange Drive between Hollywood Boulevard and Hawthorn Avenue
• Sycamore Avenue between Hollywood Boulevard and Franklin Avenue
  

6 AM Sunday, December 1:

• Hollywood Boulevard between LaBrea Avenue and Orange Drive
  

1 PM Sunday, December 1:

• DeLongpre Avenue between Highland Avenue and LaBrea Avenue
• Fountain Avenue between Highland Avenue and LaBrea Avenue
  

1 PM Sunday, December 1:

• Lanewood Avenue between Orange Drive and LaBrea Avenue
• Hawthorn Avenue between Highland Avenue  and LaBrea Avenue
• Sunset Boulevard between LaBrea Avenue and Highland Avenue
• Orange Drive between Hawthorn Av and Santa Monica Boulevard
• Sunset Boulevard between LaBrea Avenue and Highland Avenue
• El Cerrito Place between Franklin Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard
• Orange Drive between Franklin Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard
• Mansfield Avenue between DeLongpre Avenue and Fountain Avenue
  

4 PM Sunday, December 1:

• Hollywood Boulevard between Highland Avenue and Gower Street
• Sunset Boulevard between Highland Avenue and Gower Street
• Vine Street between Yucca Street and Santa Monica Boulevard
• Wilcox Avenue between Yucca Street and Santa Monica Boulevard
  

5 PM Sunday, December 1:
Partial Street/Crossing Point Closures:

• Highland Avenue between Franklin Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard with temporary crossing points at: Highland Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard
• Highland Avenue and Sunset Boulevard (southbound Highland at Sunset to remain open during the parade)
• Cahuenga Boulevard between Franklin Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard with temporary crossing points at Cahuenga Boulevard and Hollywood Boulevard
• Selma Avenue  west of Argyle Avenue with temporary crossing point at Selma Avenue and Vine Street (eastbound only)
• Cahuenga Avenue and Sunset Boulevard
• Highland Avenue and Sunset Boulevard (Only Northbound)
  

Freeway Closures:
U.S. 101 Hollywood Freeway on Sun., Dec. 1:

• Northbound and Southbound off-ramps of Cahuenga Boulevard and Highland Avenue will close at 3:00 p.m. and reopen at 10:00 p.m.
  

No Parking Sign Postings:

• On Tuesday, November 26, posting will begin on streets designated as No Parking for Sat., Nov. 30, Sun., Dec. 1, and Mon., Dec. 2.
  

PARKING AND METRO:
Parking is always a premium in Hollywood.  Parking is available at the Hollywood & Highland Shopping Complex. Most lots are paid parking – please contact the individual lot for pricing.  Parade-watchers are urged to use public transit.  For more information please use Trip Planner at www.metro.net or call (323) GO-METRO (323-466-3876).