A holiday tradition continues in Tinseltown Sunday as the 86th annual Hollywood Christmas Parade makes its way through the heart of the tourist district, with television personality Dr. Oz serving as grand marshal.
The parade will also feature a 40th anniversary performance by The Village People, along with performances by CeeLo Green, Ruben Studdard, The Band of Merrymakers, Nickelodeon star Breanna Yde, season 14 "American Idol'' winner Nick Fradiani, country singer Tom Dixon and the pop-rock band The Tearaways.
The parade will also feature a tribute to Toys for Tots by Ludacris and a magic show by Tommy Wind and Farrell Dillon, stars of The CW series "Masters of Illusion."
Among the celebrities expected to take part in the parade are the casts of "The Young and the Restless,'' "The Bay,'' "This Just In,'' "The Riveras'' and "Days Of Our Lives.'' It will also include a 60th anniversary reunion by Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow of "Leave It To Beaver,'' as well as former "Batman" co-star Burt Ward, Lou Diamond Phillips, Tara Reid, Thomas Barbusca and Asia Monet.
The parade will also include 19 marching bands, four equestrian units and more than a dozen large character balloons, including an inflated pirate, Betty Boop, Garfield, the Lorax and Gumby.
Hosting the parade will be Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain and Montel Williams. Elizabeth Stanton and Garrett Clayton will be special co-hosts.
The parade will be taped and aired as a television special by The CW on Dec. 15. The telecast will feature performances by Donny and Marie, The Tenors and Human Nature.
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The parade will begin at Hollywood Boulevard and Orange Drive, then move east along Hollywood Boulevard, south on Vine Street and west on Sunset Boulevard back to Orange.
The Hollywood Christmas Parade was technically first held in 1928, when it was called the "Santa Claus Lane Parade." Comedian Joe E. Brown was the first grand marshal in 1932, a role later filled by luminaries such as Bob Hope, Gene Autry and Jimmy Stewart, among others.
