In order to ensure that everyone gets the most they can out of the Seal Beach Christmas parade, the Seal Beach Lions and city officials wanted to share some key tips about this year’s event.
Remember it is a continuous motion parade, so once the ribbon is cut by the Grand Marshal Steve Meier and Junior Grand Marshal Jennifer Lang at 7 p.m., it just won’t stop until Santa reaches the end of the route.
Main Street and Ocean Avenue (from 11th Street to Eighth Street) will shut down at 5 p.m.
This includes complete closure of the 10th Street beach lot for staging parade entrants.
There will be a drop off zone for parade participants located on Ocean between 11th Street and 10th Street.
All other municipal lots will be open with the usual restrictions including ensuring available handicapped parking as designated.
In addition, the right turn lane of PCH heading south and the left turn lane headed north onto Main will also both be shut down.Continuing this year, the southbound side of PCH from Main Street to 12th Street will also be shut down.
This will accommodate the right turn of the parade participants, and will also allow parking of some buses and other transport on PCH.
This will cause southbound traffic to be routed around onto Bolsa Avenue via a left turn. All traffic will then proceed to 12th Street or to Seal Beach Boulevard.Because of these closures, you may wish to communicate with visitors and guests in advance of potential parking impacts and access to various areas.
Limited alley access will be available in the Main Street specific plan area. We encourage residents to park early and not to move their cars.
Do not block other’s driveways, emergency red zones or other posted No Parking signs. Remind visitors to carpool as fully as possible.
Some people may wish to park down by First Street and Ocean at the beach lot at the mouth of the San Gabriel river trail and walk up to Main Street.
Remember that private commercial property may tow you if you are not a customer of their stores.
Be sure to check any posted signs to avoid towing.
Announcers will be located at Main and Ocean, Main and Central with SBTV-3, which is broadcasting live this year, Main and Electric and at Baytown Realty in the 300 block of Main near Pacific Coast Highway, so any spot is a great one to hear the parade.
The restrooms at the foot of the Pier will be open throughout the parade duration.
Additionally, extra portable restrooms will be located at the intersection of Electric and Main, Central and Main, and at the final end at 10th and Pacific Coast Highway.
The parade starts at 7 p.m. and is anticipated to last until 8:45 pm.
All participants should be in place by 6 p.m. Streets will reopen generally within 30 minutes of the completion of the parade. This is a huge parade in the 36 year history of the event with over 3,700 participants and 111 entries.
We look forward to you enjoying the parade. Please be sure to come back and shop local too for the holiday season!
Seth Eaker, vice-chairman of the Seal Beach Christmas Parade and owner of Black Marble Consulting, a boutique consulting firm.
