Honoring the Earl Marion Hill Jr. Family at the 2024 Old Town Goleta Holiday Parade
The City is sharing this from the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club
The Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club is filled with excitement for the upcoming annual holiday parade in Old Town Goleta on Saturday, December 7th at 6pm! This year’s 2024 Old Town Goleta Holiday Parade, proudly presented by Santa Barbara Elks Lodge, Fuel Depot, Toyota of Santa Barbara, and Santa Barbara Honda, promises to be a spectacular celebration filled with festive joy, bringing our community together like never before.
Get ready for an unforgettable evening featuring enchanting floats, lively musical performances, dynamic dance groups, and spirited participants, all contributing to a magical evening filled with extra holiday cheer that you won’t want to miss. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the community to unite, embrace the joy of wholesome hometown fun, and honor our cherished community traditions. It will be a highlight of the season for both residents and visitors!
We’re excited to unveil the inaugural lighting of our dazzling new shooting star displays, made possible by the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club. These beautiful lights and colorful garlands will shine bright as darkness falls, and we invite you to join in the collective cheer as we illuminate the night.
We’re also proud to honor the Earl Marion Hill, Jr. family as the 2024 Parade Grand Marshals, celebrating their rich history and deep-rooted ties to the Goleta Valley. The Hill family first arrived in Goleta in 1874 when George Washington Hill acquired 60 acres of Rancho La Goleta. Notably, the Earl Marion Hill Jr. family served as the Grand Marshals of the Goleta Valley Days Festival Parade in 1989, highlighting their enduring connection to the community.
Dr. Earl Marion Hill Jr., a proud descendant of both George Washington Hill and L. Delenno Hill, embodies this commitment to the community. L. Delenno developed a thriving citrus ranch on his property, primarily planting lemon orchards. He was also a founding director of the Goleta Lima Bean Growers Association, further demonstrating his dedication to Goleta’s agriculture.
Earl Marion Hill Sr., L. Delenno’s youngest son managed the ranch with his wife, becoming a beloved figure in Goleta. Known for his generous spirit, Earl Sr. delivered fresh milk from the farm to neighbors and provided rides in his grandfather’s horse-drawn spring wagon, now restored and displayed at the Horace A. Sexton Memorial Museum.
The Hill family continued to expand their agricultural endeavors and shape their family legacy on the ranch. Earl Marion Hill Jr. was born at Cottage Hospital, and grew up helping his father on the ranch as he attended La Cumbre Junior High School and Santa Barbara High School. He later attended Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, passed the State Board Examination, and became the first practicing chiropractor in the Goleta Valley.
As we honor the Hill family during the parade, we celebrate their significant contributions to Goleta’s agricultural and cultural heritage, which continue to resonate in the community today.
We warmly invite local businesses, schools, sports teams, community organizations, and residents to participate in this heartwarming event. Volunteers are crucial to its success, and those interested can sign up at www.goletaholidayparade.org.
For more information on how to get involved and to celebrate the magic of the holidays together, please visit www.goletaholidayparade.org or email goletaholidayparade@gmail.com. Join us in creating a memorable experience for all!
We want to express our gratitude to our Presenting Sponsors, Santa Barbara Elks Lodge, Fuel Depot, Toyota of Santa Barbara, and Santa Barbara Honda. We also extend our thanks to our Diamond Sponsors, Cox Communications and Boone Graphics; our Platinum Sponsors, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and Special Technologies Lab; our Gold Sponsor, American Riviera Bank; and our Silver Sponsor, Kona Ice of Santa Barbara. The Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club invites any future sponsors of this year’s parade.
George Washington & Rhoda Barbara Wood Hill’s Home
Santa in the 2023 Holiday Parade