Christmas Tree Lane (Daisy Avenue) Saturday, December 8

Welcome to the Daisy Avenue Parade:

 

Thank you for visiting the 7th District website and site for the 58th Annual Daisy
Avenue Parade & Holiday Program, a unique tradition in the heart of
the Wrigley District in Long Beach. 

                 

The Daisy Avenue Parade is special in that it is the only holiday parade that runs down a
residential street and not a commercial corridor. It began in 1953 when
Gertrude B. Whittle petitioned the City Council to decorate the median
between Hill and Pacific Coast Highway into a Christmas Village. What
began as a dream for Ms. Whittle evolved into a distinguished community
event where families gather to enjoy the parade and participate in
various other events throughout the holiday season.

 

This site will be the central hub for the entire holiday program, including updates on events, full schedules, applications to join the parade, ways to donate or volunteer and much
more.  Last year, over 17,000 people participated in the Daisy Avenue
Parade events and this year we’re hoping to be even larger.

This year’s parade is on Saturday, December 8  at 5 PM.  Participation in
the parade is free of charge, so get your applications in today.  Don’t
forget to participate in all the Daisy Avenue Parade events, including
Snow Day, Movie Night, the Entertainment Nights and more.

If you wish to volunteer, donate, or just want to learn more about this unique community tradition, please contact our office at (562) 570-7777.

Sincerely,
James Johnson
Councilmember, 7th District

 

A time-honored tradition of the Christmas Tree Lane Parade on Daisy Avenue continues, open all during the holiday season for carloads of cheery and peaceful holiday sightseeing (between Pacific Coast Highway and Willow).

Donations & Tax-deductible Contributions accepted year roundDonations should be made out to
Daisy Christmas Fund
and mailed to:
The Wrigley Association
c/o Daisy Christmas Fund
PO Box 16192
Long Beach, CA 90806

Daisy Lane's Parade

The parade began in 1953 as the brainchild of Gertrude Whittle. Ms. Whittle was able to persuade the Long Beach City Council and Council of Churches to help decorate the grass median on Daisy Avenue, between Pacific Coast Highway and Willow Street, with a Christmas Village and nativity scene. Soon after, many area residents began decorating their homes and Daisy Lane as we now know it, was born! The event grew to include more displays, entertainment and a parade.

 

 

Wrigley Association Funds Lighting on Daisy Avenue  Christmas Tree Lane

November 7, 2007. Long Beach.  Last night, David Carlton, President of the Wrigley Association along with Treasurer Annie Greenfeld-Wisner presented City Council member Tonia Reyes Uranga with a check in the amount of $7,000 dollars to upgrade the lighting on Christmas Tree Lane insuring festive lights will be possible for years to come.  This is in addition to the $12,200.00 the Wrigley Association had previously given to Partners of Parks for Christmas Tree Lane that will be used by the City of Long Beach for this purpose.  The City of Long Beach will provide the rest of the funds necessary for this project.

David Carlton, President of the Wrigley Association said that "these funds will arrive in time to ensure that we will have festive lighting along the parade route and for all the visitors who come to see the decorations this Christmas.  We should never go without lights again like we did last year." Carlton added "The Wrigley Association is proud to be the organization behind the great Christmas Tree Lane tradition for almost twenty years and to be able to make possible its continued presence in our community for generations to come."

"This has been quite a week for the neighborhood.  On Wednesday we had hundreds of kids join us for a Halloween Carnival, Saturday we planted 150 trees, Monday we hosted a forum for the 55^th assembly election attended by more than 80 people and today we ensure the Christmas Tree Lane will flourish for years to come.  I am humbled to be a part of such a far reaching all volunteer organization of concerned citizens."

Councilwoman Reyes Uranga was thrilled to continue this community tradition, "when you have involved citizens like the members of the Wrigley Association in your district it makes things a lot easier for me as a representative.   Since last year's parade I have worked closely with the Wrigley Association to ensure that the lights on the trees would return, and I am proud to say that they have come through to fill the gap between what the city had available and what needed to be spent."

LBReport.com

 News / Photo Coverage

A Tradition Continues: 2008 Daisy Ave. "Christmas Tree Lane" Parade

(Dec. 13, 2008) -- LB's 55th annual Daisy Ave. "Christmas Tree Lane" Parade drew a large crowd tonight. Crowds lined Daisy Ave. between Hill St. and PCH and LBReport.com thanks reader Ricardo Linarez for capturing some of the moments below. (If you have photos you'd like us to show the world, email them to: mail@lbreport.com)

LB Mayor Bob Foster and First Lady Nancy Foster were among the participants.

Photo credit: Ricardo Linarez

Former LB Mayor/Councilmember (and continuing member of LB Community College Board of Trustees) Dr. Thomas Clark.

Photo credit: Ricardo Linarez

Former LB Mayor Beverly O'Neill

Photo credit: Ricardo Linarez

U.S. Vets from the Villages @ Cabrillo.

Photo credit: Ricardo Linarez

The Port of LB took part with Harbor Commissioner Mario Cordero visible.

Photo credit: Ricardo Linarez

Recently re-elected state Senator Alan Lowenthal.

Photo credit: Ricardo Linarez

This year's parade involved volunteers organized by the Wrigley Association. Entertainment, street median displays and tree lights were handled the Wrigley Neighborhood Neighborhood Alliance.

The City Council supported the parade in its Sept. 08 adopted budget and the 7th Council district took the official lead on the event...but it may take Santa himself to continue this.

Photo credit: Ricardo Linarez

The Daisy Ave. events began in 1953 when Gertrude Whittle convinced the City Hall and the Council of Churches to help decorate the grass median on Daisy Ave. between PCH and Willow St. with a Christmas Village and nativity scene. Residents then began decorating their homes and the event ultimately grew to include more displays, entertainment and a parade.

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