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Hollywood Christmas Parade Makes Triumphant Return To Streets of LA

HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA) — Hollywood was all geared up for the triumphant return of their big Christmas parade on Sunday one year after being forced to cancel in 2020 due to the pandemic.

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Sheryl Underwood, a host on the daytime show "The Talk," served as grand marshal of Sunday's parade, which began at Hollywood Boulevard and Orange Street. Underwood was joined by actor Jerry O'Connell to kick off the parade at 6 p.m.

The parade, hosted by Marine Toys for Tots, is in its 89th year, a household favorite since 1928. 2020 was the only year the parade hadn't occurred since, outside of 1942-1944 during World War II.

Advertised as the biggest Christmas parade in Southern California, over 10,000 people packed the streets to watch as over 5,000 participants took place in the various floats and performances that took place.

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Underwood and O'Connell were also joined by a star-studded group of Hollywood Christmas Parade Hosts that included talk show hosts Montel Williams, Laura McKenzie and Elizabeth Stanton and actors Dean Cain and Erik Estrada.

Slated for performances during the parade are the United States Marine Corps Band and the Milton High School Marching Band amongst others like the Gevorkian Dance Academy from Burbank and Korean American Youth Performing Artists from Chino. In total 11 award-winning bands from around the country will made appearances.

The parade was littered with celebrities and VIPs including the likes of Santa Clause, actors Danny Trejo, Lou Ferigno and Tom Arnold, magicians Adam Wylie and Naathan Phan and Los Angeles City Councilmembers Mitch O'Farrell (District 13), Nithya Raman (District 4) and Kevin De León (District 14).

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Also featured were three equestrian units and a variety of authority transportation displays like a Los Angeles Fire Department firetruck and the Los Angeles Police Department Drill Team.

A variety of other classic, well-known vehicles can be seen as well like James Bond's Aston Martin from "Die Another Day", the Bluesmobile from "The Blues Brothers"two separate versions of the "Ghostbusters" Ecto-1, The Mystery Machine from "Scooby Doo," the Delorean from the "Back to the Future" series and much, much more.

The 3.2-mile, U-shaped route will travel east on Hollywood Boulevard to Vine Street, turn south on Vine to Sunset Boulevard and then head west along Sunset, back to Orange.

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The city planned to shut down various streets for the parade.

The street closures start at the intersection of Hollywood and Highland. Closures are expected to be along Hollywood Boulevard, Vine Street, Sunset Boulevard, Highland Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. Cahuenga Boulevard and Yucca Street will also have closures. Franklin Avenue will be restricted for parking.

The closures will be in effect from 1 p.m. until midnight, even though the parade ends at 8 p.m., crews will require ample time to clear the streets.

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