Ocean Beach Holiday Parade Had ‘Miracle on Newport’ – No Rain and No Injuries From Car that Drove Through

The “Grand Marshall” – the James Brothers and their spouses and family. Photos by Chris Mannerino from the OBTC facebook.

Grace Quigley – one of the co-chairs of the OB Holiday Parade – sent out an email to the hundreds of parade volunteers  on Saturday – including this reporter – promising the parade would go on “with or without rain.” And she was so right.

The 2019 OB Holiday Parade was so lucky – it ducked the rain – and any injuries from a car that drove through a line of pedestrians.

Thousands of people – adults and kids jammed the sidewalks of OB’s three business blocks – as they do every year. But this year, the rain was making it a dicey game. But nature smiled and the rain passed.

The Grand Marshall(s) this year was/ were the James brothers, Pat, Mike, Ron and Greg. The Citizen of the Year was Gio Ingolia, who has been on every community board or panel there is for years. And it was Alison Lyons – former prez of the OB Woman’s Club – who bid enough at the auction to win the privilege of turning on the lights of the Christmas Tree at the foot of Newport – which she did with a flourish.

The Town Council will announce the winners of the best floats at their January meeting (I believe).  They also wish to thank everyone – here’s what was on their facebook:

Nothing captures the spirit of our quirky beach town quite like the OB Holiday parade! Thanks to everybody who came out and participated. It was a beautiful (rain-free!) event, enjoyed by so many!

Special thanks to our two co-chairs, Grace Quigley and @coreydylanbruins, as well as community volunteers Stephanie Logan and Holly Treppa Strum. These dedicated Obeceans have been working tirelessly since August to make this years parade better than ever!

Ken Stone, writer and photographer at Times of San Diego, was there at the parade and wrote up a nice report with plenty of photos. Ken also mentioned this reporter in his post. (I must repost the mention, as follows here:)

Frank Gormlie —- the political activist and advocacy journalist with OB Rag — showed his goofy side as a parade announcer for the fifth or sixth year, warming up the crowd with readings from the book “Laugh Out Loud Jokes for Kids.”

(“What do you call four bullfighters in quicksand? Quatro sinko,” he said. “When does Newport Avenue get angry? When somebody crosses it.”)

Mostly Gormlie followed a script (helpfully printed in bigger type this year), giving shoot-outs to every unit. (“Hey, guys, let’s hear it for the post office!”) and local politicians — Mayor Kevin Faulconer and mayor candidate Assemblyman Todd Gloria (riding in vehicles, Gloria with a reindeer doll at his side) and county Supervisor Nathan Fletcher (given credit for walking).

Here are some photos taken by Chris Mannerino posted on the OBTC facebook page:

The OBTC “float” in their own parade. Now if this float wins something, something’s amiss. That’s Pres. Mark Winkie driving – he’s the responsible one – and there rest are characters out of a storybook story.