Dec 12, 2008

PSF - OB Christmas Parade

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

On Wednesday I shared with you all our family's long standing tradition of attending the Ocean Beach Christmas Parade.

Even though I don't have a lot of other parades to compare OB's with,  I truly believe OB has one of the most eclectic mix of parade entrants around.  So sit back in your beach chair and enjoy a few of my shots from this years parade.

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In the OB parade it is common to see a live nativity scene being followed by the local tattoo/body piercing shop!  The Scouts marching behind the Amnesty International and two enormous Martin Luther King and Gandhi puppets.  We are all dazzled by the groups that cover their rental trucks in an entire front yards worth of decorations.

Harley Davidson riders rev their engines, and the geriatric surfers drill team perform carefully coordinated dances with their beach chairs and surf boards (oh and stop to run into a bar to refuel along the way).



What beach community parade would be complete without a line of beautifully restored Woodies!  Classic surfer car that I'm sure no one but the Beach Boys ever owned!


And Peace Signs are found on most, if not all of the floats.  In fact the Peace sing is usually found in the middle of the O in OB.  You can't live in OB if you don't believe in peace, love and happiness.



While most of the parade entrants are tossing candy canes at the parade goers, the local Organic Food co-op is handing out fresh produce.  Classic People's!



What parade would be complete without scantly clad women dancing to the beat of a the rat a tat tat of the little drummer boy?  I was actually going to join these women but my hot pants were at the cleaner and I left my clearly defined abs back at home.

After all the hippies, girl/boy scouts, surfers, random odd people, classic cars, Christmas lights, church goers, bar promoters, bands, horses, High school marching band and off key Christmas choir comes the high light of the parade.........Santa!  He sits on top of the local Fire Truck and waves to all the good girls and boys!

I believe even the naughty ones get a wink or two!

I hope all of you are enjoying this Holiday season and if you want to see more Photo Story Fridays please click on the icon at the top of the post!

Happy Holidays!

32 comments:

david mcmahon said...

Lovely images - it's been a while since I saw a peace sign!

Sandy said...

Sounds like a fun parade:)

Melissa said...

OMG, Michelle....I would love to see a picture of you dancing with the scantily clad woman...I'm sure your children would think you are the coolest mom around!! he-he :)

Rachael Schirano \\ Rachael Schirano Photography said...

this is really so cool! i love the images, i bet the parade is fantastic!

Mrs Anne said...

ha! my hotpants are at the cleaners too! thankgoodness my gold tieuptheleg shoes are available tho!

;)

i'll watch my local parades for an opening!

Jo-Jo said...

I wanna live in OB!

tiarastantrums said...

sounds awesome - and I would have danced beside you!!

Rhonda said...

too bad you left your clearly defined abs at home.

I left mine in high school.

As for the canning meant...it *IS* way yummier than the costco stuff I promise, and cheaper too! (and keeps longer on the shelf..and much more. I love canning!)

Michaelle said...

What an interesting parade! Great photos.

CC said...

So fun and WARM looking!!!

scrappysue said...

how fun. i want HER abs...

Lindsay said...

Now that is one interesting parade. I LOVE those old Woodies!

Jen said...

Is that the parade to Funky Town?

Lindsey said...

LOL at Jen's comment! That's so funny! :) Great pics and post.

Jenners said...

This is, by far, the most unique Christmas parade I've ever seen...and probably the most fun!

Love the line "left my clearly defined abs at home." That made me giggle.

My husband would go simply for the scantily clad woman! (Bet that gets you some traffic! HAHA)

Great post!

Anonymous said...

Awesome parade shots. It definitely sounds like the experience!

Pamela said...

Aw--that looks so cool! Santa Barbara used to have a summer solstice parade and it was a similiar collection of wack-o's and good times.

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

What a mix! Seems like a lot of fun!

Unknown said...

That sounds like so much fun.

magpie said...

awesome shots!! geriatric surfer drill team- i LOVE it!! wow- wounds like such a fun parade.

make sure to drop by today- that giveaway is finally going on! i know you have are gonna have a good entry!!!

Lindsay said...

That's definitely a far cry from our parades, but it sounds like a whole lot of fun! I love that they hand out fresh fruit instead of candy!

Pennies In My Pocket said...

YOU WON, YOU WON! You one a $10 gift certificate to Restaurant.com! I need you to email me your 1st and last name, email address (you'll receive the prize by email) and the state you live in. As soon as I receive info from all 3 winners, I'll be able to email you the gift certificate!

My email: melody at penniesinmypocket.net

CONGRATS!

~melody~

magpie said...

woohoo for your win!!!

Anonymous said...

So funny! I love the hot pants comment.

Gina said...

Celebrating the birth of the Christ Child wouldn't be complete without scantily clad women in a parade. No one's missing the meaning here or anything! LOL. Great shots. Thanks for sharing.

Straight to Your Hart said...

Giggle..abs back at home...think mine are hidden in the closet as well!!

Quite a parade indeed...those are the best though. Love the pictures, they tell the event quite nicely.

Shellie said...

That sounds like a pretty fun community there, and too bad we don't realize when we're young how fast those abs are going to hightail it outta there and leave us in the lurch for these occasions. I know I would have appreciated mine more.

Ronnica said...

Does seem like a special community!

Honey Mommy said...

I seem to have misplace my clearly defined abs somewhere. Have you seen them?

Rhonda said...

Oh, that sounds like a blast!

Live.Love.Eat said...

That is awesome. If I didn't love where I live I would want to live in OB. Awesome place, awesome parade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Did anyone see and or get any photos of the big green Dinosaur?

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