The 84th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade Slated for Nov 29

The 84th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade celebrating The Magic of Christmas featuring Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, presented by Associated Television International and The City of Los Angeles, will be led this year by renowned magicians andParade Grand Marshals Penn & Teller. Today the parade is announcing sponsors, bands, balloons, floats, characters/novelties and equestrian units which will be part of the 2015 parade making its 3.2 mile trek through the streets of Hollywood, CA at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 29, 2015. The parade will be hosted by Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain and Montel Williams, with special guest hosts Elizabeth Stanton and Garrett Clayton.

2015 Parade Sponsors will include: Mexico Tourism Board/VisitMexico.com (which will have a kiosk on at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on parade day, November 29th), Health Net with Covered California (which will be present with their Health Net On The Move RV at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on parade day, November 29th), Bucca di Beppo, Planet Hollywood, Coalition to Salute America's Heroes(with a car transporting actor
Jack Scalia, spokesperson Matthew Pennington and his wife Marjorie Pennington and Cassidy Dianawho will sing Salute), Chuck E. Cheese and Friends, Friskies with their spokescat the pop culture sensation Grumpy Cat, the Wells Fargo Stagecoach, Gumby (who will appear in the parade with Joe Clokey, the son of the late Art Clokey, the creator of Gumby), Nebuta Float with Taiko Drums (an ornate float), Kung Fu Panda 3 (DreamWorks Animation's and 20th Century Fox's feature film which will have a car in the parade transporting the character of Po and actor James Hong who plays Mr. Ping), the Knott's Berry Farm Stagecoach with Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy and Friends, the Equestrian Groups -Majestic Acres, Charros de la Puente, Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers, and the Victorian Roses Ladies Riding Society. Also appearing are the California Highway Patrol, Goodyear Blimp, Budweiser Clydesdales and Hitch, Club Car, Archibald Mouse, Hollywood Hotel, Balsam Hill(supplying the beautiful concert stage trees) and ICU light back pack by Radiant Enterprises (with an on camera donation to Marine Toys for Tots).

The Nebuta Float is making its debut in the parade this year, and is inspired by the popular Nebuta Festival of Aomori Prefecture, one of the largest and most famous festivals in all of Japan that dates back hundreds of years. The Nebuta Float was designed by Japanese Masters Artist, Hiroo Takenami,specifically to be showcased here in Los Angeles. Its colorful design is carefully hand-painted and constructed of traditional washi paper and outfitted with over 3,000 LED lights. This year's float depicts the "Legends of Yoshitsune," the story of the celebrated General of the Minamoto clan, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who by divine power safely travels across the ocean for battle.

Jim Romanovich, President of Worldwide Media and Entertainment for Associated Television International, said: "We are thrilled to once again be a part of The Hollywood Christmas Parade, one of the greatest holiday traditions of all time, which is enjoyed by millions of families each year. This year, we are especially gratified to have both The CW and our good friends at the Hallmark Channel as our television partners. We are equally thrilled to be partnered with Marine Toys for Tots once again. Through the parade and the generous support of our media partners The CW, Hallmark Channel, Radio Disney, KOST 103.5 FM, Entertainment Tonight, Variety, and so many more, we can continue to help provide the necessary awareness tools for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation program which is essential in their providing gifts to less fortunate children everywhere."

Seventeen award-winning bands from around the country and the world will be featured in this year's parade. They include: Marine Band San Diego, U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard, Blazen Divaz(Coeur D'Alene, ID), Bloomington High School Band (North, IN), Cedarburg High School Marching Band (Cedarburg, WI), Cougar Band from Bloomington High School North (Bloomington, IN), Gadsden Elementary School District #32 Marching Band (San Luis, AZ), Golden Sail International from Youth Culture and Arts Association (West Covina, CA and China), Gruppo Sbandieratori e Musici Faenza(Italian Flag-Throwers and Drums, Faenza, Italy), Kaiser Catamount Pride Band and Color Guard from Kaiser High School (Fontana, CA), Korean American Youth Performing Artists (KAYPA) (Chino, CA),Los Angeles Catholic Schools Band (Torrance, CA), Long Beach Junior Concert Band (Long Beach, CA), Los Angeles Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums (Fullerton, CA), Mountain Fifes and Drums(Youth Music Program, Lake Arrowhead, CA), Pacific American Volunteer Association World Traditional Korean Marching Band (PAVA World, Los Angeles, CA), Porterville High School Panther Band (Porterville, CA) and Rancho Verde Crimson Regiment from Rancho Verde High School (Moreno Valley, CA).

Eighteen giant balloons will float down the streets of Hollywood on parade night including: Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (wrangled by the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes), Hanna-Barbera's Tom & Jerry (wrangled by the Mexico Tourism Board), Toy Soldier (wrangled by Air Force Personnel), Pirate & Chest (wrangled by Author Services and Galaxy Press), Elf & Four Lollipops (wrangled byHollywood Hotel), Dr. Seuss' The Cat In The Hat (wrangled by Hollywood Central Park), Gumby(wrangled by Make-A-Wish Foundation), Three Christmas Ornaments (wrangled by Kiwanis), Strawberry Shortcake (wrangled by the Hollywood Arts Council) and Hanna-Barbera's Scooby Doo(wrangled by The Brittney Foundation).

The parade will also include the U.S. Air Force Color Guard, Mini Jets and a P51 Mustang Plane,a Falan Dafa float (the traditional Chinese self-cultivation practice - Azusa, CA), a Miss Hispanidad float with Miss California and Miss Teen California riding on it, The Way To Happiness Float (Author Services, Inc.) and over 30 movie picture cars supplied by Nate Truman's Star Car Central, which will be pursuing a Guinness Book of World Records for the most movie vehicles in one place. Other parade participants soon to be announced will include celebrities from film, television and stage and renowned musical performers who will perform in the streets of Hollywood near the Grandstand area starting at 5:00 p.m. on the day of the live parade, Sunday, November 29, 2015. Numerous special award presentationswill be made during the parade as well. Santa Claus will make a special appearance, accompanied by Marine Staff Sergeant Cathleen Barsallo and Sergeant Jazz Alston on his float, ushering in the official beginning of the holiday season.

Grandstand Tickets for the 2015 Hollywood Christmas Parade are now on sale. Purchase your seats now by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or buying online at www.ticketmaster.com/hcp. For the latest updates about the parade, please call the 24/7 Parade Hotline toll free at 1-866-PARADE1 (866-727-2331) or visit the parade's official website at www.thehollywoodchristmasparade.org. For highlights of past parades, visit, vimeo.com/85566731. Stay in touch with us via Facebook and Twitter. @HlywdChristmas #HollywoodChristmasParade #TheHCP2015

The 84th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade will premiere as a two-hour special on The CW Network on Friday, December 11, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific/7:00 p.m. Central. Long-time parade partner Hallmark Channel will air multiple runs of the parade beginning Saturday, December 19, 2015 on their Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel. The parade will also air to more than one million American servicemen and women worldwide on American Forces Network during the holiday season.

Grand Marshals Penn & Teller (Penn Jillette & Raymond Teller), world acclaimed magicians and entertainers, have been performing as a duo together for the last four decades, combining magic with comedy. Headlining in Las Vegas at The Penn & Teller Theatre at The Rio Hotel, the two are currently starring in the Penn & Teller: Fool Us series airing on The CW produced by 1/17 Productions.

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