Another Spectacular Old Town Goleta Holiday Parade

Window Decorating Contest Winners Announced

Congratulations to the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club for putting on another memorable Goleta Old Town Holiday Parade! It took approximately 100 volunteers and a total of more than 1,000 volunteer hours to pull off this well-attended and festive event that took place Saturday night, December 7th. Thousands of people lined Hollister Avenue on this beautiful evening with new holiday lights lining the parade route. The spectators were entertained by more than 80 parade entries and 1,700 participants. Some of the highlights included an18-foot Snowman and an appearance by Santa.

The Earl Marion Hill, Jr. Family was honored as the parade grand marshals, celebrating their roots in the Goleta Valley that go back to 1874 when George Washington Hill settled here. The City of Goleta was pleased to participate once again this year. Check out this video clip.

Thank you to Kevin Haeberle from the Community Hot Rod Project who helped locate and organize the vintage cars for elected officials in the parade. The drivers and their cars included:

Efrem Reynozo with a 1957 Silver Chevy Bel Air driving Mayor Perotte
Kevin Haeberle with a 1938 Ford Deluxe Convertible (Milpas Motors) driving Mayor Pro Tempore Luz Reyes-Martín
Wally Schelvis with a 1988 Burgundy Oldsmobile Delta driving Councilmember Stuart Kasdin
David Guzik with a 1964 Light Blue Ford Falcon driving Councilmember Kyle Richards
Kay Lee Ahnemann with a 1995 Silver Pontiac Firebird Trans Am driving Councilmember James Kyriaco
John Sween with a 1987 Mercedes Benz 560 SL (Milpas Motors) driving Assemblymember Gregg Hart
John Finseth with a 1967 Chevy Corvette driving Santa Barbara County 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann

Congrats also to the winners of our 2nd Annual Window Decorating Contest.

First Place: Larry’s 8 Day Auto Parts
Honorable Mention: Hollister Barbershop
Honorable Mention: Goleta Bakery
People’s Choice Award: The Edge Salon & Barbershop
People’s Choice Runner-Up: Lazy Eye Shop

Winners will receive a free car wash thanks to Fuel Depot.

See for yourself photos of the participating businesses online here. Or you can head over to Hollister Avenue in Old Town from Orange to Kinman and see them for yourself. The displays will be up throughout the rest of the holiday season.

We can’t wait for next year. Mark your calendar! The next Old Town Goleta Holiday Parade is on December 6, 2025.

City Council, City staff and volunteers holding the Happy Holidays banner