Montrose Christmas Parade
Glendale, CA
One of the foothill communities’ oldest and most beloved holiday traditions — a Saturday-night parade down Honolulu Avenue with 150+ community service groups, drill teams, and bands from across the region.
One of the foothill communities’ oldest and most beloved holiday traditions — a Saturday-night parade down Honolulu Avenue with 150+ community service groups, drill teams, and bands from across the region.
The Montrose Christmas Parade rolls down Honolulu Avenue through the historic shopping district of the Montrose neighborhood of Glendale each early-December Saturday evening. Now in its fifth decade, it’s one of the foothill communities’ longest-running holiday traditions and a defining piece of Glendale’s San Fernando Valley foothills character.
More than 150 community service groups, youth groups, drill teams, and bands from Montrose, La Crescenta, La Cañada, Glendale, and surrounding cities march the route, which runs east on Honolulu Avenue from Rosemont Avenue to Verdugo Road. The intersection of Honolulu Avenue and Ocean View Boulevard is the parade’s anchor point and the most-packed viewing area. Staging starts at La Crescenta Avenue & Honolulu, with street closures and parking restrictions going into effect in the afternoon.
For families in the foothills — Montrose, La Crescenta, La Cañada, and the broader Glendale foothills — this is the season opener.
Honolulu Avenue from Rosemont Avenue east to Verdugo Road. The intersection of Honolulu Avenue and Ocean View Boulevard is the parade’s anchor and central viewing point.
The parade rolls in the evening. Streets close and parking restrictions begin in the afternoon, so plan to arrive a couple of hours early to claim viewing space – check the official page for this year’s times.
Glendale Lots 1, 2, and 7 are closed for the parade. Park in surrounding side streets and residential blocks just outside the closure zone, then walk in. Many residents bike or walk from nearby neighborhoods.
About 90 minutes from start to last entry. With 150-plus community groups, drill teams, and bands marching, the procession has a real rhythm — not a quick pass.
Yes — Honolulu Avenue’s restaurants stay open through and after the parade. The local move is a dinner-and-parade evening with a Honolulu reservation; the historic shopping district is part of the appeal.
Honolulu Avenue is the main historic shopping district of Montrose — a foothill neighborhood at the north edge of Glendale, tucked beneath the San Gabriel Mountains. The walkable corridor between Rosemont and Verdugo runs through five blocks of pre-war commercial frontage, locally-owned restaurants, and the kind of small-shop character that’s largely vanished from neighboring valley flats. Montrose, La Crescenta, La Cañada, and the rest of the foothill communities all share Honolulu as their commercial spine, which is why the parade pulls from every adjacent town.
A one-mile after-dark walk through the botanical gardens transformed by immersive lighting installations — one of Southern California’s most beloved garden holiday experiences, with timed entry and a long, unrushed window.
Descanso Gardens’ after-dark holiday walk has run in recent years under the name “Enchanted: Forest of Light.”
Brian J. Cook
The annual Burbank Town Center tree-lighting evening on the mall’s dining terrace — the holiday tree sparks to life, costumed characters greet families, hot festive beverages and ornament-decorating stations spread across the terrace, and the indoor mall transforms into a winter wonderland with photo ops throughout. Free, family-friendly, indoor-friendly weather backup.
Brian J. Cook
Caruso’s Americana at Brand turns Glendale into a holiday wonderland — a Mt. Shasta white fir more than 80 feet tall, thousands of lights and ornaments, nightly snowfall, Santa visits, and a glowing shopping district, all free for families. Confirm this season’s program at americanaatbrand.com.
Brian J. Cook
The Glendale Galleria — Glendale’s three-story regional mall — is fully decorated for the holiday season each year, with a free Santa visit setup near the lower-level Apple store, decked corridors across all three levels, festive music, and extended hours through the season. Free to walk, free to visit Santa, free family atmosphere — paid photo packages optional.
Brian J. Cook
Southern California’s holiday lights and festive outings are pure magic — but nothing compares to Santa Claus himself stepping through your own front door. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded, professionally trained Santa to homes and gatherings across SoCal for an intimate live visit your family will treasure for years.
Check Availability
Have a date in mind? Tell us when and where, and we’ll let you know whether Santa is open. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded Santa Claus to Live Visits and Group Experiences across Southern California, and December fills quickly, so the sooner you check, the better your odds of locking in your first choice.
This is a quick availability check, not a booking. Nothing is reserved and nothing is owed until we’ve confirmed your date and you’ve placed your retainer.