The Ocean Beach Town Council invites the community to join in cherished annual holiday celebrations including the OB Christmas tree, the OB Toy & Food Drive, the Holiday Auction & Party, and the eagerly awaited 44th Annual OB Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 5:05 p.m. on Newport Avenue.

This series of neighborhood events has brightened the Peninsula for over 40 years. Each event, steeped in rich tradition and community spirit, is designed to spread joy and bring together neighbors, friends, and visitors in OB during the holiday season.

PARADE THEME

The parade theme for 2023, “Santa’s Disco Luau,” is set to be a lively and joyful celebration, showcasing the spirit of this distinctive beach community.

The parade will feature over 100 entries including unique and vibrant floats, local bands, community organizations like the OB Woman’s Club celebrating their 100th anniversary, local businesses, scout troops, and eclectic golf cart groups.

Of the selection of this year’s parade theme, OBTC president Corey Bruins noted: “We had a brainstorming meeting of our holiday committee and a couple of folks were thinking disco, and a couple of others were thinking luau – so we figured we’d put them together.”

Bruins added this year’s parade theme will be “expressed through our holiday artwork and T-shirts for the event, and will also be used as inspiration for our floats. Our hope is that each of the floats entered will incorporate the disco luau theme.”

PARADE VIPS

The list of notable parade attendees includes California State Assemblymember Tasha Boerner and District 2 Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell. The VIP Deck at the Ocean Beach Hotel, presented by Cutwater, offers tickets for $75, with exclusive parade viewing, hosted cocktails, and appetizers. Tickets are available at obtc.link/vipdeck.

Bruins pointed out that the “energy” for this year’s parade is really high and that everyone is looking forward to “lots of floats, entries, and good spirits.” He suggested the OB Woman’s Club float will be “really special” as well, given that it is the club’s 100th anniversary. “We’re excited to see what they come up with,” he added.

EVENT’S GREATER PURPOSE

Of the parade event’s purpose, other than ushering in the year-end holidays, Bruins said: “OB is a community that likes to come together and celebrate. We like to remind each other how lucky we are to live in this great City and in this great neighborhood. And we do that every year through the OB Street Fair and Chili Cookoff and in June and the Fourth of July. The parade is the capstone to the year celebrating culture, art, and community, all of those great things.”

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The parade is a testament to the power of an engaged community, and OBTC is still looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make this event a success. Interested individuals can sign up at obtc.link/volunteer.

COMMUNITY-POWERED
The OBTC extends a big thank you to this year’s sponsors: Cutwater, Submerge Church, Catrina Russel Real Estate, and Professional Maintenance Systems. The dedication of countless community members, contributing time, talent, and resources, is the backbone of the holiday initiatives.

HOLIDAY PARTY & AUCTION
Don’t miss the Holiday Party & Auction at The Holding Company on Dec. 7, which includes live and silent auctions, great food, and more. Also, be part of the Food & Toy Drive from Dec. 11-15, spreading holiday cheer on Dec. 16. Learn more about getting involved in all the OBTC holiday initiatives at obtc.link/holidays.

PARADE ENTRIES

Vehicles for the Grand Marshal, Assembly member Tasha Boerner and District 2 Council member Jennifer Campbell, Friends of the OB Library, Silver Gate Elementary Unicycle Club, OB Woman’s Club, Ocean Beach Hotel, Cutwater Spirits, OB Elementary, Ocean Beach Milk Enthusiasts, OB vets, Ocean Beach People’s Food Co-op, The San Diego River Park Foundation, Submerge Church, OB Spaceman, Lighthouse Ice Cream, Half Hour Late Band, Warren-Walker Parent Auxiliary, Portuguese Community of San Diego, Point Loma High cheerleaders, OB Girl Scout Troop 4427 and Girl Scout Troops 4106, 4325, 4632, 2202, and 4901, High Tech Middle Media Arts, PLHS soccer, Cheer San Diego Extreme, Peninsula Youth Softball, Apt 4 Music, Ocean Dental Care, PLHS Vanguard, San Diego Gulls, San Diego Wooden Dinghy Lovers, Ross Bagurdes Turns 50, Cub Scout Pack 546, Peninsula Girl Scouts, Scouts BSA Troop 555 (girls), SD Peninsula Lions, OB Hardware, OB Parrot Pandemonium, Blue Wave Tae Kwon Do, Cameron Highlanders, Sunset Cliffs Surfing Association, San Diego Scooter Mob, Peninsula Surf Club, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Kai Elua, OMBAC, Irish Congress of Southern California, Renewal by Andersen, San Diego Broncos, Peace, Love & VDubs, Mitch’s Seafood, OB Run Club, Sunset Cliffs Animal Hospital, The Whittemore Family & Friends, Amys Daisies, Point Loma Youth Football Team, Sunset Garage, Samba Brazil San Diego, Sunset Clips, The Dancehouse, Taco Tour San Diego, The O.B. Merpod, Camplife Customs, THC Steam Machines softball, The Cool Bus float, Golf Carts of OB, Point Loma Golf Cart Club, Efficient Working Bodies, Inc., Canvas Services, Barona Racers, Dawson Wise Real Estate, Setting Sun Dojo, Nikki’s Band, Pups ‘N Boots, Dog Beach Dog Wash, Play Hard Dance Company, GA Coachworks, EZE Ryders Electric Bikes, Neighborhood Shenanigans, Ryan Family YMCA, Raise Da Woof Ocean Beach, Hoedown on the hill, Lawstache Law Firm, One Earth Recycling, OB Drum Circle Mundo Music, Ocean Beach Horseshoe Club, Corvette Owners Club of San Diego, OB Disco Holiday Golf Carts, Ocean Beach Speech, Krampus Krewe, Firefighter Aid, Friends of Friday Night Volleyball, OBTC, and San Diego Fire Rescue & Lifeguards.

OB TOWN COUNCIL

The object and purpose of the Ocean Beach Town Council is to express the will and represent the welfare of OB by:

– Providing a forum for discussion of community issues.
– Communicating the views and needs of the community to the appropriate agencies.
– Taking appropriate action on community issues.
– Promoting the general betterment and beautification of Ocean Beach.
– Fostering cooperative efforts among all community organizations and residents for their mutual benefit.

OBTC hosts public meetings on the fourth Wednesday of every month except November and December. Regular speakers include local leaders, political, business, and law enforcement representatives, as well as members from all corners of the Ocean Beach community. All are welcome.

Photos by Christian Kelly