This year's joint venture between Winterfest 2008 and the Hollywood Santa Parade in Hollywood, California could mark the beginning of a good partnership.
Winterfest Red Carpet/Photos by Suzette Valle
The all-day street fair smack in the middle of the most famous area in Los Angeles was an ingenious move to celebrate those less fortunate living in the shadows of Tinsel Towns' bright lights. The VIPs invited for this celebration came from the Boys and Girls Club, Los Angeles Childrens' Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and other community service organizations who serve the underpriviledged in this area. Children and their families, some with masks and carried by their parents, others wearing their Sunday best, walked a red carpet lined with Disney celebrities like High School Musical's Corbin Blue, and other Radio Disney personalities who greeted them before entering an enclosed area with free activities and gifts for them to enjoy.
Disney Celebs waiting to greet the VIPs
A little VIP interviewed on the red carpet
Enclosed VIP area at Winterfest
Winterfest is the brainchild of Hollywood Youth Foundation Executive Director Greg Durfee, and partnering with Radio Disney, Lift Up America and the City of Los Angeles made it a reality. Laura Berhman, Director of Marketing for Radio Disney, Monica Ojeda of Disney World Wide Outreach and Val Meloff with General Services for the City of Los Angeles cooperated to secure donations and help make this event possible. Radio Disney and the Disney Road Crew provided an army of "VoluntEars" who headed the various activity stations at the festival; reading stories in Minnie's Reading Room, handing out stuffed Mickey Mouse toys and making Christmas ornaments were some of the things to do at Winterfest.
My family and a couple of my daughter’s friends volunteered (OK, were volun-told!) for the day, and it was a heart-warming experience to help out with this wonderful outreach program. Several cities already have Christmas Parade traditions, but it's no surprise that the City of Los Angeles is leading the way by establishing a new tradition to include a special day of celebration for those who need a hand too.
Kids and volunteers making ornaments
The Chill Room at Winterfest
Corbin Blue and Volunteers at Winterfest (Photo Suzette Valle)
Entertainment was the main attraction for these less fortunate families, and the stage on Hollywood Boulevard hosted performers like Drew Seeley from Disney' Another Cinderella Story, Savvy and Mandy, Boo Boo and T-Squad, Brock Storm, Pink-E Swear, and the latest teen sensation Demi Lovato.
Drew Seeley/Suzette Valle
Demi Lovato/Suzette Valle
Savvy and Mandy/Suzette Valle
Boo Boo TSquad/Suzette Valle
Pink-E Swear/Suzette Valle
Brock Storm/Suzette Valle
The Hollywood Santa Parade on Hollywood Boulevard later showcased celebrities from past and present television shows and movies.
Fans swarmmed the two cast members from the blockbuster movie Twilight who graciously posed for pictures, and signed Stephanie Meyer's books as their car waited in line to roll down the parade route.
Justin Chon plays Eric Yorkie in Twilight
Michael Welch is Mike Newton in Twilight
It was reported that the event attracted 10,000 people to take part in the day's festivities called Hollywood Holiday. The day-long carnival and parade will be broadcast on L.A. CityView Channel 35 on December 15, at 10am and 9pm, and on several other dates available online at http://www.lacityview.org/
Plans for next year's event will start in the following months, and if you are interested in making a donation or sponsorships simply e-mail me!
