Some holiday parades came back in December after cancellations in 2020 and earlier 2021. Carpinteria threw a parade along Linden Avenue on Dec. 4. 
Boy Scouts participate in Saturday’s Carpinteria Holiday Spirit Parade. 
Carpinteria High School’s championship team banner was all full display for the parade. 
Carpinteria High School cheerleaders show their holiday spirit. 
Carpinteria High School’s water polo championship team. 
The Carpinteria Holiday Spirit Parade. 
Girl Scout Troop 50217’s parade entry included candy canes and choreographed dance routines. 
The Carpinteria Holiday Spirit Parade. 
The Carpinteria Holiday Spirit Parade. 
The Carpinteria Holiday Spirit Parade. 
Old Spanish Days Fiesta is represented in the Carpinteria Holiday Spirit Parade. 
Montecito’s holiday car parade. 
Montecito’s holiday car parade. 
Montecito’s holiday car parade. 
Montecito’s holiday car parade.
The Carpinteria Holiday Spirit Parade — featuring local cultural groups, high school performers, dogs, Girl Scouts and more — returned to Linden Avenue on Saturday after a yearlong hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Families and friends, from nearby communities and neighboring counties, gathered on the sidewalks to watch the parade at 4 p.m. as the sun began to set. Hot dog stands and local stores prepared for more visitors, greeting them outside with food and trinkets.
As the parade began, small children excitedly waved to parents and relatives participating in the parade.
For Van and Joyce Moe, who attended the event, the parade evoked feelings of nostalgia and holiday spirit.
“When you get the small-town parade with the people that live here and go out of their way to bring their horses and their tractors and all of that, it's just kind of an endearing, small community thing. It's a nice feeling,” Van Moe said.
As former parade grand marshals themselves, the couple said they appreciated how the event brought the community together.
“It's what they've missed over the last two years,” Van Moe said. “There was a real desire to get back out and get among people and friends, and do what we normally do as human beings.”
Groups such as Old Spanish Days and Girl Scout Troop 50217 came with choreographed dances and candy canes to spread the word about their groups.
“Carpinteria is such an inclusive town where anyone can participate. We've got individual families and nonprofits, and they just let everyone in,” Girl Scout troop mom Lana Ziegler said, adding that the kids in the troop were excited to participate in the parade. “I'm a mom of a daisy and a junior Scout, and they wanted to be present and participate and let the town know about their troop.”
Ziegler also said that the troop was hoping to get out the word about their upcoming cookie sales.
“They're going to be selling cookies starting in January,” she said. “They just wanted everyone to know that we have some troops in town, so that when it's time to buy cookies, they know who to seek out.”
Basilia Solis said she came to the parade with her son and a friend’s child to experience the small-town holiday spirit and enjoy Carpinteria’s bevy of local shops.
“I'm happy to be out,” she said. “The kids have no idea what to expect. I'm just happy to be here and check out more stores.”
Similarly, Joyce Moe said she appreciated how the community was beginning to gather again, especially during the holiday season.
“I always look forward to Christmas anyway, but this just makes Christmas a little more special to have everybody around, and it brings your spirit up because everybody's happy,” she said.
“This year, the Christmas spirit is more catching than COVID,” she quipped.
Also on Saturday, Montecito residents gathered for a car parade starting at Manning Park and driving around the community with vehicles covered in lights and festive decorations.
The holiday car parade is expected to become an annual event, according to the Montecito Association.
— Noozhawk contributing writers Atmika Iyer and Holly Rusch can be reachd at news@noozhawk.com.