The Coronado Chamber of Commerce’s 41st Annual Holiday Parade on December 2nd was the perfect kick-off to the holiday season! It was the biggest and best year yet, bringing thousands to downtown to watch the floats, bands and Santa himself make their way down Orange Avenue before the tree lighting ceremony at Rotary Plaza and the Merchant Open House. A new addition this year was the Chamber’s partnership with the Coronado Police Department on their Annual Teddy Bear Drive. The Chamber asked parade patrons to bring their bear donation directly to the parade and received 77 donations at the parade and over 150 in the bins beforehand.
“It’s a fun parade with lots of excitement…VW vans and vintage cars, lowriders and motorcycles, amazing floats and firetrucks, we even had a Jump Rope team this year,” said Sue Gillingham, Executive Director for the Chamber. “But the biggest accomplishment was our partnership on the Teddy Bear Drive. We were able to turn our annual event into a chance to donate to a great cause, and we are so excited to have met our goal!”
The parade kicked off with Coronado Police Chief Jon Froomin walking with the Teddy Bear Drive Coordinator, Detective Sam Sellers. Chamber Board Members, City Council and both current Mayor Tanaka and Mayor-Elect Richard Bailey followed suit along with JROTC volunteers collecting teddy bear donations in giant EDCO bins. From there, the parade included the Coronado Islander Marching Band, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, CHS Cheer, Coronado Police Senior Volunteers, NOSC Sailor of the Year, USA Jump Stars, Coronado Girl Scouts, Recreation Department, Coronado Pop Warner & Cheer, Graham Memorial, PAWS of Coronado, Coronado Lacrosse, Clairemont High School Band, Sharp Coronado Hospital, City Tree Christian School, Celtic Corner and Westie Rescue, Cub Scout Pack 122, Miss San Diego, Coronado Youth Softball, Coronado Historical Association, Coronado SAFE, Coronado Island Realty, Two Men & A Truck, Ascent Real Estate, San Diego Lowriders Car Club, Camp Able at Coronado, Old Town Trolley, Coronado Schools Foundation, Goldwing Road Riders Association, The Brigantine, Coronado Mainstreet, Young Life, San Diego Association of Car Clubs, FOCUS, Sacred Heart and Coronado Beach Lifeguards. The Coronado Fire Department brings up the rear with Santa and his elves riding in style in Lil’ Mac, the fully restored fire truck #80 that answered the bell here in Coronado for 37 years, starting in 1939!
The Chamber would like to thank EDCO Waste & Disposal for being the parade’s title sponsor again this year, as well as everyone who donated to the Annual Teddy Bear Drive. For more information on the Holiday Parade, contact the Chamber office at 619-435-9260 or check out the Chamber’s website or Facebook page for additional pictures from the event.
