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Hollywood Blvd Family Activities

Enjoy the Pantages Theater & the Hollywood Santa Parade!

Photo: Pantages Theater entrance, showing posters advertising the musical On other pages of the "Hollywood Attractions" section of this website, we've talked about oodles of fun that families can have on the world-famous Hollywood Boulevard!

There have been pages about the Grauman's Chinese Theater; Disney's El Capitan Theater & Disney's Soda Shop; the Kodak Theater; the Hollywood & Highland shopping mall...and more. We've covered funky museums, like the Guinness Book of World Records Museum; the Ripley's Believe It or Not "Odditorium"; and the Hollywood Wax Museum, with it's life-size figures of celebrity actors and actresses. We've talked about the tourist-magnet called the Hollywood Walk of Fame...plus the famous "Hollywood" sign high above town in the hills.

Picture: Pantages Theater in Hollywood, California; attractive ceiling in box office area






On this page, we'll continue talking about still MORE family-style Hollywood Fun. First, we'll cover the historic Pantages Theater, where, at times, family-friendly live theatrical productions are staged. (And, at other times, the show being produced makes a great place for a "parent's night out" activity.) Secondly, we'll talk about the popular annual spectacle held every November: the Hollywood Santa Parade.







The Pantages Theater

Night time photo of the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, California Hollywood's Pantages Theater is an icon; a true symbol that brings to mind the "glories of Hollywood" just to view its marquee. But, the Pantages is more than a place to remember Hollywood's past: it's a great place to see live stage productions in the here-and-now!

Oftentimes, the Pantages Theater stages family-friendly productions. "The Lion King" and "Wicked" are two such productions which have finished successful runs at Hollywood's Pantages Theater. In 2009, the Pantages offered its guests such popular productions as The Beatles Experience, Mamma Mia, Dirty Dancing, Fiddler on the Roof, and Legally Blonde.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas plays at the Pantages for the holidays! The Pantages Theater is bringing plenty of family fun to SoCal audiences for the Christmas season! This Dr. Seuss "favorite" will be playing all season long for you and your kids to enjoy together. But hurry--The Grinch will only be at the Pantages between 11/14/09 and 1/3/2010! Here's a link to the Pangages Theater website where you can check out the details of the schedule and make your plans to attend.







Pantages Theater detailed seating chart

Photo of Pantages Theater in Hollywood during the staging of

If you would like to view a seating chart for the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, you'll find an excellent...and very detailed...seating map on the www.BroadwayLA.org website. If you'd like to view that detailed seating chart, you may use the following link to head directly to the "seating map" page of the Broadway LA website.












Pantages Theater Phone, Address, Directions

The Pantages Theater phone number is (323) 468-1770, which reaches the Pantages Theater's box office.

The Pantages Theater address is 6233 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028.

Directions to the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, California: From the US 101 Freeway, you may take the Hollywood Boulevard exit and head west to the theater.

Driving map to the Pantages Theater: If you'd like to view a street map of the area around the Pantages, here's a Google road map to the Pantages Theater.









Pantages tickets on EBay

Can't find the Pantages show tickets you want? Try EBay!

The EBay Auction website has Wicked show tickets up for bid every day of the week. In the EBay Widget below, you'll see CURRENT auctions which are actually taking place at this moment. When one auction ends, another new auction takes its place. So, if you don't like what you see today, head back---every time you may enjoy looking at an entirely different selection!







Hollywood Christmas Parade 2009


The "Hollywood Santa Parade" is now the new name for this annual November celebration


Parade-lovers: You'll adore the glitzy Hollywood Christmas Parade! This Hollywood, California tradition celebrated its 78th Anniversary for Christmas 2009. As usual, the Hollywood Christmas Parade will be stuffed-like-a-Christmas-Stocking full of celebrities, equestrian riders, marching bands, floats and (naturally), Santa Claus!

What an exciting history this memorable parade has had! Many of us old-timers remember when it was called the "Santa Claus Lane Parade." Gene Autry wrote the famous holiday tune that goes, "Here comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus, Right down Santa Claus Lane" after attending this event!

2007 was a special year in this historic parade's saga! The parade got a new name---the Hollywood Santa Parade. The parade also got a new sponsor---the City of Los Angeles!

Why did the parade's name change? After celebrating the 2006 holidays with a wonderful "Diamond Jubilee" parade noting 75 years of spreading joy, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce gave up sponsoring the parade. It was simply costing them too much money to continue it any longer. But...naturally, since the parade is such a traditional event, MANY people were in an uproar over this announcement! Thankfully, the city of LA stepped in, and will continue the event which many SoCal families attend year after year after year.

At least from the guest's point of view, what's NOT to like about the Hollywood Christmas Parade? (Er...make that the Hollywood SANTA parade!) It's festive, it's fun and it's FREE. In other words, it's top-notch holiday entertainment at just the right price for any family's budget! In the pictures of the Hollywood Christmas Parade floats to your left and right, you're enjoying a slideshow of snapshots taken by members of the Flickr photo sharing community.



In the slide show pictures, you can see some "practical" details about the parade...if you look in the background. Notice how the crowds have started to assemble even before dark? Many have brought folding chairs with them to help them wait more comfortable.

Where should you stand to get a good view of the Hollywood Christmas Parade? Traditionally, the parade has started near the Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard, then heads EAST. At the famous intersection of Hollywood & Vine, the parade route has turned SOUTH and headed towards Sunset Boulevard. At Sunset Boulevard, the parade usually heads back WEST.

It is generally assumed that the parade will follow its usual route for Christmas 2009 that it's had in past years. If there's a change to this route, a notice will be posted on this page. Meanwhile, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce posts a map of the parade route on its website. To see their PDF map of the Hollywood Christmas Parade route, please use the following link to view the printable PDF Hollywood Christmas Parade route map from the Hollywood COC website.



Summary of 2009 Hollywood Santa Parade info:

  • Hollywood Christmas Parade date: The 2009 parade date will be Sunday, November 29, 2009
  • Hollywood Christmas Parade starting time: 6 pm will be this year's starting time. 5 pm is the traditional starting time, so make a note to yourself of the time change!
  • Grand Marshal of the Hollywood Santa Parade: Susan Lucci is this year's Grand Marshal!
  • Subway to Hollywood Christmas Parade: Metro Red Line; use Hollywood & Vine or the Hollywood & Highland stops.
  • Directions to parade area: from the US 101 Freeway, take either the Highland Ave exit and head south, the Hollywood Blvd exit and head west, or the Sunset Blvd exit and head west.
  • Map to the Hollywood Christmas Parade: You may use the following Google map to the Grauman's Chinese Theater and Hollywood & Highland Mall, the traditional starting point for the parade.

    Santa Claus Parade website: Here's a link to the Hollywood Santa Parade's official website, where you may look for updates & further information.


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    Discover other SoCal Christmas activities:   Del Mar Holiday Lights ::   Griffith Park Christmas Activities ::   Hollywood Santa Parade ::   Knott's Christmas 2009 ::   SeaWorld Christmas ::   Disney: Disneyland Christmas Overview ::   Disney Christmas Parade ::   Disney Holiday Parade, pt 2 ::   Disney Fireworks & Snow ::   Santa's Beach Blast ::   Santa's Reindeer Roundup ::   Small World Holiday ::   Haunted Mansion pics ::   Haunted Mansion, pt 2 ::   Other Activities: SoCal Christmas Activities ::   Christmas Activities Calendar 2009 ::   Seasonal Family Fun ::   Stores: Michaels Craft Stores ::   Party City/Los Angeles ::   Party City/other So Cal ::   Year-round costume stores ::   Christmas Costumes:   Angel Costumes ::   Elf, Snowman & Reindeer Costumes ::   Santa & Mrs Claus Costumes ::   New Years:   Disney New Years Eve ::   Praise Celebration 2010



    Plan other Hollywood sight-seeing:   Hollywood Attractions ::   Kodak Theater ::   Grauman's Chinese Theater ::   El Capitan Theater ::   Disney Soda Fountain ::   El Capitan Theater Past Premieres ::   The Hollywood Bowl ::   Hollywood Walk of Fame/Hollywood Sign ::   The Doors Star ::   Hollywood Blvd Costumed Characters



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