Tonight Is The Daisy Ave. Christmas Tree Lane Parade -- Sat. Dec. 13, 5:00-7:00 p.m. -- Public Citywide Invited To Wrigley's Event Along Neighborhood Street, Not Commercial Route

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Tonight Is Daisy Ave. Christmas Tree Lane Parade -- Sat. Dec. 13, 5:00-7:00 p.m. -- Public Citywide Invited To Wrigley's Event Along Neighborhood Street, Not Commercial Route

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(Dec. 13, 2014, 8:10 a.m.) -- Tonight s Long Beach's volunteer-organized, grassroots-friendly Daisy Ave. Christmas Tree Lane Parade -- Sat. Dec. 13, 5:00-7:00 p.m. -- when holiday decorated Daisy Ave. between Burnett St. and PCH turns into "Christmas Tree Lane" for a parade that travels down the neighborhood street (in contrast to other parades that travel down commercial corridors.)

The event begins on Daisy Avenue at Burnett St., heads south toward Hill Street, proceeds down the east side of Daisy Avenue to PCH. (The best view for kids is from the median on Daisy between Hill & PCH.)

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It's smart to dress warmly and bring something to sit on.

This year's event spotlights newly appointed LBPD Chief Robert Luna and the entire Long Beach Police Department.

The parade is a Long Beach original. It began in 1953 as the brainchild of area resident Gertrude Whittle, who convinced the Long Beach City Council and Council of Churches to help decorate the Daisy Ave. grass median as Christmas Village and nativity scene. Residents then began decorating their homes and the rest is history: Daisy Lane event grew to include multiple displays, entertainment nights, and a parade.

In 1988, Maria Norvell and the Wrigley Association began efforts to revitalize the parade and Daisy Lane decorations, a task now shouldered by the volunteers and Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance (formed in large part to continue the parade activities.) The parade receives some support from the City of Long Beach as well as donations and contributions from multiple community sponsors.

Saturday's parade is followed by other community events:

Sunday, December 14, 7-8:30 p.m.
International Children's Choir
Maria Folklorico
Santa's Song Birds
Friday, December 19, 7-9 p.m. Blue Steel Band (Rock'n & Roll'n Family Fun)
Saturday, December 20, 7-9 p.m.
Las Estrellas Ballet of Long Beach
KTL Dance Group
Sirenas Serpentina Tribal Fire Dancers

(We're told Santa will be on the Lane handing out candy canes from 7 to 8 pm on the Entertainment Nights...and Santa will also pose for photographs.)