With a chill in the air and despite some Grinch costumes along the route, the annual Santa Maria Parade of Lights filled Broadway with Christmas cheer Saturday.
The parade kicked off at 5:20 p.m., traveling north on Broadway from Stowell Road to Main Street.
More than 100 entries participated in the parade, which was organized by the four Rotary Clubs of the Santa Maria Valley and Nipomo.
Entries were encouraged to use lots of lights, and many complied covering vehicles of all types with dozens of strings of lights. Marching band members also joined in donning lights as part of their uniforms or decorating musical instruments with lights.
After the parade, organizers named the winners of seven prizes that included $4,500 in total awards, with $350 for first place and $150 for second place.
The Grand Prize Award, with a $1,000, went to the Panther Pride Marching Band and Color Guard from Pioneer Valley High School.
Awards were presented for best use of lights for various categories including commercial, religious, youth nonprofit, non-youth nonprofit and other entries.
The commercial entry first place honor went to Bonipak/Bonita Packing with LG General Construction given second place.
The top religious entry went to Igleisa Internacional Casa de Dios while Centro Cristiano de Evangelismo received second place.
FC Black Diamond received first place for youth nonprofit followed by Boys & Girls Club of Mid Central Coast.
For non-youth nonprofit, the Central Coast Chapter of Vintage Volkswagen Club of America landed in first while Santa Maria 4 Wheelers placed second.
In the best use of lights other category, High Rollers Off Road earned first while the Children’s Resource and Referral of Santa Barbara County got second.
The best band prize went to Orcutt Academy High School Marching Band followed by the Santa Maria High School Marching Band.
Worthy Athletics won first place for best cheer gymnastic and other marching group while KT’s All-Star Gymnastics placed second.
Christmas celebrations in the Santa Maria Valley will continue next weekend.
Old Town Orcutt’s Christmas Parade will kick off at noon Dec. 13.
The event has taken place since 1961 and was organized for decades by the Orcutt Volunteer Fire Department, which has since disbanded.
Now the Orcutt Lions Community Foundation spearheads the planning with a new route to debut in 2025 to reduce traffic troubles and parking problems.
Organizers also will offer a shuttle between Pioneer Park and Old Town Orcutt for parade spectators and participants.
Guadalupe’s annual Christmas parade will launch at 6 p.m. Dec. 13 with the theme “Peace, Love, Hope Around the World.”
The parade, organized by the Kiwanis Club of Guadalupe, will travel along Guadalupe Street (Highway 1).
Santa Maria’s parade was the third of three held in North County this weekend. The Lompoc Valley Children’s Christmas Season Parade on Friday night kicked off the trio followed by the Solvang Julefest parade Saturday morning.
