Holiday parade announces honorees
updated: Nov 20, 2009, 12:11 PM

Source: Downtown Organization

On December 4th at 6:30pm, the much anticipated Holiday Parade will once again amuse more than 50,000 spectators as giant helium balloons float down State Street amidst magnificent marching bands, fabulous floats and spectacular performance groups in elaborate, colorful costumes to charm the audience. Kicking off the parade, watch for the Holiday Prince and Fairy riding in a horse drawn carriage with Grand Marshal Smokey Bear.

The Holiday Prince and Fairy were carefully selected by a panel of judges based on works of art submitted by children 6-10 who drew, painted and colored what makes the Holiday's Magical for them. This year's winners are Prince Nick Schaedler, age 8 and Fairy Sydney Lynn Hlavaty, age 7. They have one of the most important jobs in the parade - lighting the 45' Douglas Fir Community Holiday Tree located just north of the intersection at State and Victoria Streets. In keeping with tradition, the Prince and Fairy will waive their magic wands and spectacularly the tree will illuminate State Street signifying the official start of the Parade and the Holiday Season. And watch for the Prince and Fairy Finalists riding with Santa as he slides down State Street at the end of the parade.

Leading the parade with the Holiday Prince and Fairy will be Grand Marshal, Smokey Bear. Santa Barbara is helping Smokey celebrate his 65th birthday this year. Smokey Bear is America's wildfire prevention icon educating generations of Americans about their role in wildfire prevention.

The idea of forest fire prevention was born back in 1942 when a Japanese submarine surfaced near the coast of Southern California and fired a salvo of shells that exploded on an oil field near Santa Barbara, very close to the Los Padres National Forest. Americans throughout the country were shocked by the news that World War II had now been brought directly to the American mainland. There was concern that further attacks could bring a disastrous loss of life and destruction of property. There was also a fear that enemy incendiary shells exploding in the forests of the Pacific Coast could easily set off numerous raging forest fires. With experienced firefighters and other able-bodied men engaged in the armed forces, the home communities had to deal with the forest fires as best they could. Protection of these forests became a matter of national importance. If people could be urged to be more careful, perhaps some of the fires could be prevented.

The Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention campaign, created in 1944, is now the longest running public service advertising campaign in U.S. History. As one of the world's most recognizable fictional characters, Smokey's catch phrase, "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires," brings attention to any unwanted, unplanned, uncontrolled outdoor fire. Smokey has an important role in leading the Holiday Parade and in teaching us how to prevent wildfires in our hometown.

The parade is sponsored by the Downtown Organization and begins at 6:30 pm on State at Sola Street and concludes at Cota Street. For information, contact the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization at (805) 962-2098 ext. 24 or visit www.santabarbaradowntown.com.

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Downtown Holiday Parade announces Prince Fairy Grand Marshal Smokey Bear