Long Beach’s 41st annual Belmont Shore Christmas Parade will return this weekend to not only spread holiday joy — but also try to break a world record.
The parade will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, along Second Street in Belmont Shore — and will be the world’s biggest pajama party. This year’s theme is “Jingle Jammies,” because organizers are asking participants and spectators to wear their festive pajamas to help set a world record for the most people in pajamas at one time.
The Belmont Shore Christmas Parade, which is put on by the Belmont Shore Business Association, will have more than 100 entries that include local marching bands, dancers, floats designed by Long Beach businesses and associations, local personalities and dignitaries, and an appearance by Santa Claus — with help from the Long Beach Fire Department.
“We’re excited to host the parade again and produce it for the 41st time,” Heather Kern, executive director of the Belmont Shore Business Association, said in an interview, “and have everyone’s favorites return and some extra special guests.”
Christmas pajamas are a big part of Kern’s family holiday season, she said, which inspired the idea for this year’s theme and breaking a world record. At the moment, the world record for the largest gathering of people wearing two-piece pajamas at a single venue is 2,052 participants, achieved by IKEA employees in Sweden in 2024, according to Guinness World Records.
“I know that that is easy for us to defeat,” Kern said.
Organizers are also excited for spectators to see the most light-up bikes than in the past, corgis and dalmations in their Christmas outfits, low rider cars, an appearance by the Long Beach State men’s volleyball championship team, Star Wars stormtroopers, and more along the parade route.
This year’s grand marshals are David Shlemmer of Shlemmer Investments, Mike Sheldrake of Sheldrake Coffee Roasting, Paige Henley from McCarty’s Jewelry and Dede Rossi, the former executive director of the Belmont Shore Business Association. The parade will once again be hosted by TV personalities Bob Goen and Marianne Curan, with field host Lisa Ramelow, for the cozy, fun-filled evening, organizers said.
The parade route is along East Second Street and will begin heading east from Quincy Avenue to Bayshore Avenue. Residents in the area should plan accordingly, as East Livingston Drive will close at 3 p.m. for the parade’s entry line-up and staging. East Second Street will close to traffic at 4 p.m.
Free parking will be available at the Beach Parking Lots along Ocean Boulevard and at Marine Stadium.
Organizers ask that attendees start reserving spaces after 4 p.m. on Saturday to help keep Belmont Shore safe and walkable before the parade begins.
Sponsors that have made this year’s parade possible include the Port of Long Beach, Councilmember Kristina Duggan, WAFD Bank, AES, Long Beach City College, LBS Financial, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Chase Bank, PowerTrip, Legacy, Long Beach Airport and Long Beach Transit.
If people are unable to make to attend the parade in person, a livestream will be available at belmontshore.org.