Belmont Shore had a pajama party this weekend.
The 41st annual Belmont Shore Christmas Parade took place on Saturday evening, Dec. 6, with plenty of holiday spirit on display as thousands of attendees and parade participants wore their pajamas — as this year’s theme was “Jingle Jammies.”
The Christmas procession, hosted by the Belmont Shore Business Association, is one of the biggest annual parades in Long Beach, organizers say. Families and friends lined up along Second Street for a seat along the parade route, while others watched from inside restaurants or shops, and many residents set up holiday parties on their front lawns to watch the celebration.
Kicking off the night was Jennergy Jump, bringing their high-energy performance and bubbles, followed by Third District Councilmember Kristina Duggan, who rode on an antique Long Beach firetruck.
California State University Long Beach Cheer performs during the 41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The 501st Legion walks in the 41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade features 115 entries in Long Beach on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Santa waves to attendees of the 41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The So Cal Corgi Nation participates in the 41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Long Beach Press-Telegram walks in the 41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Jordan High School Marching Band performs during the 41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Long Beach Press-Telegram’s Petey dances during the 41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Lowell Elementary School participates in the 41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Cabrillo High School performs during the 41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Attendees of the 41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade cheer and wave in Long Beach on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Long Beach Press-Telegram’s Petey dances during the 41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Lincoln WRAP Cheer Team performs during the 41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Cabrillo High School performs during the 41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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California State University Long Beach Cheer performs during the 41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
There were 115 entries in this year’s parade, which included dozens of local marching bands, Long Beach businesses and associations, local personalities and dignitaries, and much more.
“It’s wonderful; it’s such a great event,” said Raymond Ivey, co-owner of Gallagher’s Pub and Grill. “It’s so easy to get lost in all the stuff you have to do up until Christmas and this kind of makes you get into the Christmas spirit before Christmas is here.”
The local Irish pub celebrated two decades of being in Long Beach this year. Their float included a performance by The Bell Boys and gave away 1,100 shirts to those along the parade route.
Bringing a new perspective to the pajama theme was Long Beach Pride, whose float resembled Captain Hook’s pirate ship from Disney’s “Peter Pan.” Several of Neverland’s characters were on board, including Peter Pan and the Lost Boys.
“We want to project what Long Beach Pride is about – initiates with community, invests in community, and that we’re always here to support community,” said Christopher Duvali, vice president of production for Long Beach Pride. “It is just exceptional that everybody’s happy and smiling. It’s always a great time.”
There were several performances during the parade, but Gravity Dance Company stood out as always. This year, dancers performed to “Drummer Boy” by Justin Bieber featuring Busta Rhymes and wore matching pajamas.
“This is a wonderful experience for us every year,” said Gravity Dance owner Shiquita Sargent. “It’s really nostalgic for me because when I was in high school at Wilson, I was in this parade every year with the cheer team.
“So having my own business and having a really notable dance company in the community and putting on a show every year and spreading that holiday cheer, it just means the world,” Sargent added. “We’ve got our 18-year-olds all the way down to 3-year-olds dancing today.”
The nearly three-hour parade ended with an appearance by Santa Claus riding atop a fire truck, with help from the Long Beach Fire Department.
The Belmont Shore Business Association also set out to break the world record for the most people wearing pajamas at an event. They had a dedicated team stationed at every block tallying pajamas — with the count coming out to more than 15,700 spectators and parade participants wearing their coziest nighttime oufits. The marching bands, bike groups, dancers, corgis, cheerleaders, and even Mayor Rex Richardson and his family wore pajamas.
Unfortunately, even though BSBA applied twice to Guinness World Records, the association did not hear back, organizers said. But it did not stop them from creating their own record. Organizers thanked the Long Beach community and visitors for attending this year’s parade.
Many visitors said they enjoyed the theme, from those who checked it out for the first time and others who have made attending the event an annual tradition.
For Long Beach resident Sasha Harro and her family, the parade has become a way to bring all 50 members of the family together — even before Christmas. This is the sixth year the Harro family has attended the Christmas Parade.
“I loved all the different groups, like the dogs, the dancers, and even the Labubu DJ on the Beach Flea Market float,” Harro said. “It was awesome and it was energetic.”