PARADING THROUGH PACOIMA HOLIDAYS EVENT DRAWS BIG CROWDS.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer

PACOIMA - Several thousand people turned out Saturday morning for the Pacoima Chamber of Commerce's 37th annual holiday parade and festival, celebrating the theme ``Holidays Around the World.''

Many said the parade is considered an indispensable part of the holiday season and a showcase for Pacoima pride.

``Life out here is rough,'' said Danny De Avila, 42, of Pacoima, whose daughter, Jennifer, 14, carried the American flag in the Pacoima Middle School color guard at the front of the procession.

``It's nice to have positive things going on. Families here have a hard time, but when the chips are down, the community really comes together.''

The parade route ran a mile along Van Nuys Boulevard, from Amboy Avenue to David Gonzales Park, where a community music festival continued into the afternoon and evening.

Families lined up on both sides of the boulevard, setting out lawn chairs and blankets and arranging strollers. Vendors sold balloons, cotton candy, snacks and sizzling bacon-wrapped hot dogs.

Children scrambled for candy canes thrown by parade participants, and more than one adult ducked as some of the treats were hurled with enthusiasm.

Celebrities and politicians in the parade included the grand marshal, El Piolin de la maana from Spanish-language Radio la Nueva (101.9 FM); City Council President Alex Padilla; state Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys; Councilman Tony Cardenas; Assemblywoman Cindy Montanez, D-Mission Hills; singer Jenny Rivera; and actor Danny Trejo.

Spectators cheered as they recognized Trejo, whose career has included roles in such feature films as ``Con Air,'' ``Heat'' and ``From Dusk Till Dawn.''

``Oh, he's the one who always dies,'' said Victor Miguel Garcia, 32, of Pacoima.

Garcia attended the parade with six of his nine brothers, their two sisters and a gaggle of nieces and nephews.

The Garcia family has been coming to the parade for more than 30 years, said Manuel Garcia, 37.

His sister, Rose Maria Garcia, 39, held daughter Sunny, 9 months, who wore a festive cap shaped like an extra-long Christmas stocking.

``The kids look forward to it every year,'' she said. ``They know it's always (early) in December, and that's all they talk about.''

Nely Billa, 17, of Pacoima, brought her 1-year-old daughter, Leslie, to see the parade, her first.

``I wanted her to see everything that was going on today,'' she said, as the infant, clad in a cheerful pink chenille jacket, stared calmly at the crowds. ``She likes being around people.''

Riding high on a Wells Fargo Bank stagecoach pulled by four horses, Manny Lizarraga said the coach was always greeted by cheers from children watching the parade, ``but I don't think they're cheering for us - they're cheering for the horses.''

But David Smith Jr., 18, of Pacoima said his favorite part was seeing ``low riders'' and other specialty cars.

``I like how the crowd gets into it when the cars start hopping.''

Lisa M. Sodders, [phone]

lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1) Esther Herrera, left, and her kids travel down Van Nuys Boulevard on Saturday, promoting the family auto business.

(2) State Sen. Richard Alarcon rides down the parade route for the 37th annual Pacoima procession, which ended at David Gonzales Park.

(3) A line of low riders travels up Van Nuys Boulevard for the yearly holiday celebration, which attracted thousands of onlookers.

Matthew Simmons/Special to the Daily News