Local Parades: Hometown holiday spirit

If you're a L.A. transplant like many of us around here, you may miss small town holiday festivities or maybe you're just a sucker for holiday cuteness. If so, be sure to check out Belmont Shore's Christmas Parade this Saturday Dec 1 in Long Beach 6-9pm.

Generally attracting 45,000+ viewers and over 100 entries it's not the tiniest of parades but it does give a good dose of holiday cheer. If Long Beach is too much of a haul, Los Angeles County also has an events calendar of festivities around the city.

Word to the wise with any parade: Check road closures and traffic alternatives. Long Beach closes down the parade route generally at 3pm, with traffic backing up on the 405 and 605 for miles starting around 5pm [via 7th street exit]. We recommend coming in from the 710 or Lakewood Blvd into the area and be prepared for a good walk.

image via blamfoto/flickr