Christmas time is here again and so is the Pacific Beach Holiday Parade. However, many community residents may be unaware that this Pacific Beach tradition almost didn’t happen this year.
According to Todd Brown, chair of Discover Pacific Beach’s Hospitality Task Force, funding for the Holiday Parade has come from revenue generated at the PB Block Party. The cancellation of this year’s Block Party ” renamed the PB Street Fair ” because of a backlash by both business owners and residents over the problems associated with the event, such as public drunkenness, traffic and litter, meant that there was no funding for this year’s parade.
Brown explained that, as part of the Hospitality Task Force’s desire to be involved in positive aspects of the community, they contacted the Community Foundation, which organizes the Block Party, to see about helping out during the Holiday Parade. Brown said his group was told that there was no funding and that there wouldn’t be a parade.
Instead of dropping the issue, the Hospitality Task Force decided to take on the task of raising funds to continuing the holiday parade tradition, which is scheduled for noon, Saturday, Dec. 9, along Garnet between Haines and Cass streets.
While not working directly with the Community Foundation, the Task Force is working closely with Community Foundation board member Kevin Hellman.
“He has been the point guy for the parade every year for as long as I can remember,” Brown said. “He agreed to work with us on his own and he has been key.”
Brown explained that Hellman assisted in creating a preliminary budget, based on the expenses of years past, between $15,000 to $16,000.
“I think if we hadn’t have sought [the Community Foundation] out there wouldn’t be a parade,” Brown said. “That’s the tough part about it for the community, is that how do you know to help out if the words not out there that it’s in trouble.”
With the assistance of Discover Pacific Beach, the task force was able to gain support from the other community organizations and obtain a permit from the city.
During fund-raising, the task force contacted District 2 Councilman Kevin Faulconer, who donated $1,500, and County Supervisory Pam Slater-Price, who donated $3,300.
“[Slater-Price] has been instrumental in helping save the parade,” Brown said. “That’s what put us over the top, that money we got from her just saved us.”
Five key members of the task force each donated $1,000 and volunteered to have fund-raising events at their business establishments.
The first event at Bub’s Dive Bar & Grill, as well as the second event at Tavern At The Beach, each brought in $400 for the parade.
Three more fund-raising events are scheduled, including a raffle drawing for two Christmas trees at each event and a mix of gift certificates and apparel from local businesses. Radio station 94.9 FM has helped promote the fund-raisers with announcements and live broadcasts.
Three more fund-raisers are planned before the parade.
“¢ Thursday, Nov. 30 ” PB Bar & Grill, 860 Garnet Ave., 9-11 p.m.
“¢ Friday, Dec. 1 ” Plum Crazy, 1060 Garnet Ave., 8-11 p.m.
“¢ Tuesday, Dec. 5 ” Moondoggies, 832 Garnet Ave., 8-10 p.m.
According to Brown, the PBTC has helped in preparation and will assist the task force in implementation, which is key for community events.
“That’s the thing, building the relationships between the community groups is so important too,” he said. “Seeing the BID partner up with the town council to work on an event that this community deserves”¦it’s a holiday parade, it’s a great event. You’d hate to see something like that go away.”
Parade organizers are encouraging more parade participants. Local businesses, community groups, church groups and schools still have time to enter a float in the parade.
For more information or to download the parade entry form, visit www.pacificbeach.org/visitorinfo/calendar.cfm.