Hollywood Christmas Parade 2009 : Route

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Los Angeles- After Thanksgiving and Black Friday, the most popular event in Los Angeles is the annual Hollywood Christmas Parade. Each year, Tinseltown kicks off the start of the holiday shopping season with a major, star-studded, 3.2 mile Christmas parade along Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards.

Yesterday, thousands of enthusiastic spectators gathered over Hollywood Boulevard to have a glimpse of opera star Susan Lucci, ornate floats, Santa Claus, horses and 11 award-winning bands in the annual Hollywood Christmas Parade.

Unlike every year, the parade was being taped for the first time, so that audiences across the country would be able to view it in prime time in December. It will also showcase the modern Boulevard, being a center of amenities like glitzy night clubs and upscale clothing stores.

Spectators lined the boulevard hours before the parade began, securing spots along the U-shaped route. It started at Orange Street and East Hollywood Boulevard. The celebration turned south on Vine Street, went west at Sunset Boulevard and ended at Orange Street.

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Among the 11 award-winning bands from across the country performing for crowds along the route were the local Hollywood High School Band and Long Beach Junior Concert Band.

This year’s festivities participants include Antonio Sabato Jr., Lorenzo Lamas, Lee Majors, Montel Williams, Brian McKnight, Cindy Williams and Louis Gossett Jr. and more Hollywood stars.

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Here’s the Hollywood Christmas Parade Route:

• Hollywood Boulevard, from La Brea Avenue to Orange Street, at 6 a.m. Reopened at 10 p.m.

• Hawthorn, De Longpre and Fountain avenues, from La Brea Avenue to Highland Avenue, at 1 p.m. Streets reopened at 9 p.m.

• Lanewood Avenue, from La Brea Avenue to Orange Street, at 1 p.m. Reopened at 10 p.m.

• El Cerrito Place, from Hollywood Boulevard to Franklin Avenue, at 1 p.m. Reopened at 8 p.m.

• Sycamore Avenue and Orange Street, from Franklin Avenue to Fountain Avenue, at 1 p.m. They reopened at 9 p.m.

• West Sunset Boulevard, from La Brea Avenue to Highland Avenue, at 1 p.m. Reopened at 10 p.m.

• East side of La Brea Avenue, from Hollywood Boulevard to Sunset Boulevard, at 4 p.m. Reopened at 7 p.m.

• Highland Avenue, from Franklin Avenue to Santa Monica Boulevard, at 4 p.m. Reopened at 9 p.m.

• Hollywood Boulevard, from Highland Avenue to Gower Street, at 4 p.m. Reopened at 9 p.m.

• Vine Street, from Franklin Avenue to Santa Monica Boulevard, at 4 p.m. Reopened at 9 p.m.

• Sunset Boulevard, from Highland Avenue to Gower Street, at 4 p.m. Reopened at 9 p.m.

• Sunset Boulevard, from Highland Avenue to La Brea Avenue, at 3 p.m. Reopened at 10 p.m.

• 101 Freeway northbound and southbound off

• ramps at Cahuenga Boulevard and Highland Avenue closed at 3 p.m. They reopened at 10 p.m.

The parade will air nationally via MyNetworkTV from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10. It will be shown again to viewers across the country from 8 to 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Hollywood Christmas Parade, is entirely a family event, that everyone awaits eagerly. This parade brings you the opportunity to see actual movie & TV stars on the streets of Hollywood. This dazzling night time procession of stars is often called as “the largest celebrity parade in the world!”