Sunny, warm weather greeted Old Orcutt Christmas Parade participants and spectators on Saturday afternoon.
More than 60 entries made their way through Old Town, traveling from the staging area on Rice Ranch Road along Broadway and Clark Avenue before ending at Dyer Street.
This year’s parade saluted Karen Ransome and family as grand marshals. The late John Ransome Sr. had served as Santa Claus, with Karen Ransome at his side as Mrs. Claus, around the community for years, including at Operations Kids Christmas at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Parade organizers said they plan to announce award recipients on Sunday, with the list to be posted on the website and Facebook page. Awards will be distributed at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Orcutt Lions Club.
A small group of volunteers now organizes the parade with help from the Orcutt Lions Club and a lot of sponsors.
The now-disbanded Orcutt Volunteer Fire Department first launched the event for several decades since the parade’s inaugural edition in 1961.
It still takes place midday on the second Saturday of December, but skipped two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fesler Junior High School cheerleaders particpate in the Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade on Saturday afternoon. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo) 
Coaches and players for the 14-and-under Orcutt Babe Ruth World Series champions wave to the crowd while showing off the trophy on Saturday. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo) 
Orcutt Union School District Elementary Band members perform during the Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade on Saturday. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo) 
April Huckaby dons her Grinch gear for the Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade on Saturday. She is one of many volunteers keeping the parade on track. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo) 
Orcutt Bike Club members ride and walk the Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade route on Saturday. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo) 
All Weather Landscape’s entry in the Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade features plenty of lawn flamingos along with decorated mowers. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo) 
Orcutt Union School District Elementary Band members perform in the Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade on Saturday. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo) 
The Central Coast Chapter of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America travels the route for the Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade on Saturday. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo) 
Orcutt Union School District Elementary Band members perform with decorated instruments in the Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade on Saturday. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo) Credit: Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo 
Orcutt Bike Club members, some sporting Christmas attire, ride and pop wheelies along the route for the Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade on Saturday. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo) 
Orcutt Union School District Elementary Band members perform during the Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade on Saturday. Members include students from Joe Nightingale and Patterson Road schools. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo) 
Umbrellas provide shade Saturday for spectators during the Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo)
In the months leading up to the parade, organizers held at least one tri-tip barbecue fundraiser to get funds to help defray expenses and have said they expect to do so again ahead of the 2024 event.
Orcutt’s parade was one of two in the Santa Maria Valley on Saturday.
The Guadalupe Christmas Parade took place Saturday evening with the small city’s Kiwanis Club organizing the event with the theme of “Peace, Love and Hope Around the World.”