‘Droppin’ In’ is theme for Encinitas Holiday Parade

Thousands of people will be on floats and in bands, with tens of thousands more cheering them on, as the 2014 Encinitas Holiday Parade rolls along Coast Highway 101 on Saturday, Dec. 6.

This year’s theme is “Droppin’ In for the Holidays,” celebrating Encinitas’ reputation as the mecca for action sports. Expect to see plenty of big- name surfers, skateboarders, snowboarders and more, and terrific representations of the action sports lifestyle on the many floats and entries in the parade. Look for skateboard legend — and Encinitas local — Tony Hawk riding atop a 35-foot skateboard!

The parade begins at 5:30 p.m., preceded by a 5 p.m. tree lighting ceremony at the Lumberyard (near Starbucks coffee). Parade entries, which will include floats, marching bands and children’s groups, will travel south along South Coast Highway 101 beginning at D Street and finishing at J Street.

Don’t stress over finding a parking space downtown: Take advantage of free parade parking shuttles that run from Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas off Santa Fe Drive (just look for the signs pointing you there) or from the YMCA/Ecke Sports Park parking lot on Saxony Road. Both shuttles start running at 4 p.m. and go until 8:30 p.m. The ADA-accessible bus runs from the Scripps location. Shuttles run approximately every 20 minutes and will drop people off at the NCTD bus station on Vulcan Avenue, just a half block from the parade route. Visit www.EncinitasParksandRec.com; 760-633-2740.