BAKERSFIELD, CA - The 31st annual Bakersfield Christmas Parade is finally here. Organizers have been busy putting it all together and keeping the tradition alive.
High school bands, lights, intricate floats all come together to make the parade a hit.
Coordinator Pamela Carlock said, "It has a long running history, which is very nice. It takes a lot to put the parade on, a lot more than meets the eye."
She says seeing the parade goers excitement, makes it all worth while.
"I think it has become a family tradition and I think that's the key. I've noticed so many people have come to me and said I was in it when I was a teenager, now my children are here, or now my grandchildren are here," she said.
What would a Christmas parade be without Santa.
Parade committee vice president Art Carlock said, "He's the grand marshal, the grand pupa, the head guy, the boss all of them rolled into one."
Organizers spent about 200 hours getting santa's ride ready for the big night.
He said, "It's every little kids dream to see Santa Claus. So, we do our best to put everything we can think of on it, that the little kids want to see."
"Grab all the kids, grab the grandparents, grab your family up. Come down and enjoy this wonderful evening. It only happens once a year," said Pamela Carlock.
The yellow area on the map is the parade route. It starts at 22nd and L streets, heading west on 21st over to G street, where it takes a left and another left onto 20th street.
There will be no parking signs posted between F and G streets and 19th and 23rd streets.
The Bakersfield Christmas Parade is sponsored by Dignity Health.
If you can't make it out, you can watch it live on TV-17 at 6 p.m. We'll be broadcasting from 21st street between Eye and H streets.
Organizers say streets will close at 5 p.m.. Look out for closures and no parking signs. Vendors will be out around 2 p.m..
High school bands, lights, intricate floats all come together to make the parade a hit.
Coordinator Pamela Carlock said, "It has a long running history, which is very nice. It takes a lot to put the parade on, a lot more than meets the eye."
She says seeing the parade goers excitement, makes it all worth while.
"I think it has become a family tradition and I think that's the key. I've noticed so many people have come to me and said I was in it when I was a teenager, now my children are here, or now my grandchildren are here," she said.
What would a Christmas parade be without Santa.
Parade committee vice president Art Carlock said, "He's the grand marshal, the grand pupa, the head guy, the boss all of them rolled into one."
Organizers spent about 200 hours getting santa's ride ready for the big night.
He said, "It's every little kids dream to see Santa Claus. So, we do our best to put everything we can think of on it, that the little kids want to see."
"Grab all the kids, grab the grandparents, grab your family up. Come down and enjoy this wonderful evening. It only happens once a year," said Pamela Carlock.
The yellow area on the map is the parade route. It starts at 22nd and L streets, heading west on 21st over to G street, where it takes a left and another left onto 20th street.
There will be no parking signs posted between F and G streets and 19th and 23rd streets.
The Bakersfield Christmas Parade is sponsored by Dignity Health.
If you can't make it out, you can watch it live on TV-17 at 6 p.m. We'll be broadcasting from 21st street between Eye and H streets.
Organizers say streets will close at 5 p.m.. Look out for closures and no parking signs. Vendors will be out around 2 p.m..