San Jose Holiday Parade
Encyclopedia
The San Jose Holiday Parade is in San Jose, California
. The parade is considered one of the "Top 25 Parades in America". Celebrities and famous locals appear as Grand Marshals and numerous bands from across America are invited to participate in the parade.
arrived in grand style for the opening of the Christmas in the Park display at Plaza de Cesar Chavez
, in Downtown San José. Santa appeared on the roof of the St. Claire Hotel (currently the Hyatt
), vanished from its rooftop and magically appeared at the hotel entrance. Santa leaped into a horse-drawn carriage waiting to escort him up Market Street to the park. In the first year the parade consisted of a couple of fire engines, City of San José vehicles and Santa.
The next year, the parade became the Christmas in the Park Parade. It began on Park Avenue and circled around Plaza de Cesar Chavez. The parade featured a handful of units including the San Jose State University
Spartan Marching Band, a couple of floats and children’s groups. This tradition continued for a number of years until the parade became too large just circling the park. The 2008 parade is on December 7th.
In 1987, KNTV
, San José’s only network affiliate television station, began to broadcast the parade throughout the Bay Area as the parade gained popularity. In 1993, the Christmas in the Park Parade became the San Jose Holiday Parade, beginning a new tradition. In 1994, the parade began its expansion to become a major California event and showcase California’s third largest city. Giant helium balloons
, professionally made floats
and marching musical units throughout North America were invited to join the line of march.
At the start of the Millennium, the parade was named "One of the Top 25 Parades in America" by the International Festival and Events Association and USA Today. In 2006, International Festival and Event professionals honored the San Jose Holiday Parade with the Grand Pinnacle Award. This award is presented annually to recognize the overall top international event.
The 2010 parade will be held on December 5th. The honorary Grand Marshals will be two World Series champs from the San Francisco Giants.
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. The parade is considered one of the "Top 25 Parades in America". Celebrities and famous locals appear as Grand Marshals and numerous bands from across America are invited to participate in the parade.
History
The San Jose Holiday Parade tradition began in 1981 when Santa ClausSanta Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
arrived in grand style for the opening of the Christmas in the Park display at Plaza de Cesar Chavez
Plaza de Cesar Chavez
Plaza de César Chávez is a 2.2-acre park in Downtown San Jose, California, USA, named after César Chávez in 1993. It is surrounded by South Market Street, across which is The Tech Museum of Innovation, the San Jose Museum of Art, the Circle of Palms Plaza and the Fairmont San Jose Hotel...
, in Downtown San José. Santa appeared on the roof of the St. Claire Hotel (currently the Hyatt
Hyatt
Hyatt Hotels Corporation , is an international operator of hotels.Hyatt Center is the headquarters for Hyatt corporation...
), vanished from its rooftop and magically appeared at the hotel entrance. Santa leaped into a horse-drawn carriage waiting to escort him up Market Street to the park. In the first year the parade consisted of a couple of fire engines, City of San José vehicles and Santa.
The next year, the parade became the Christmas in the Park Parade. It began on Park Avenue and circled around Plaza de Cesar Chavez. The parade featured a handful of units including the San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
Spartan Marching Band, a couple of floats and children’s groups. This tradition continued for a number of years until the parade became too large just circling the park. The 2008 parade is on December 7th.
In 1987, KNTV
KNTV
KNTV, channel 11, is the NBC owned-and-operated television station in the Bay Area market. It is licensed to San Jose, with its transmitter located on San Bruno Mountain, just south of San Francisco. It shares facilities in San Jose with NBC Universal sister station KSTS and CNBC's Silicon...
, San José’s only network affiliate television station, began to broadcast the parade throughout the Bay Area as the parade gained popularity. In 1993, the Christmas in the Park Parade became the San Jose Holiday Parade, beginning a new tradition. In 1994, the parade began its expansion to become a major California event and showcase California’s third largest city. Giant helium balloons
Gas balloon
A gas balloon is any balloon that stays aloft due to being filled with a gas less dense than air or lighter than air . A gas balloon may also be called a Charlière for its inventor, the Frenchman Jacques Charles. Today, familiar gas balloons include large blimps and small rubber party balloons...
, professionally made floats
Floats
Floats are a beverage line introduced by the Dr Pepper Snapple Group in January 2008. Two flavors are available, A&W Float and Sunkist Float. The purpose of the concept is to mimic the flavor of an ice cream float of a given soda...
and marching musical units throughout North America were invited to join the line of march.
At the start of the Millennium, the parade was named "One of the Top 25 Parades in America" by the International Festival and Events Association and USA Today. In 2006, International Festival and Event professionals honored the San Jose Holiday Parade with the Grand Pinnacle Award. This award is presented annually to recognize the overall top international event.
The 2010 parade will be held on December 5th. The honorary Grand Marshals will be two World Series champs from the San Francisco Giants.