Photo Illustration Courtesy of Downtown SLO

  With December beginning, San Luis Obispo normally begins the holiday season with the beloved Downtown Holiday Parade. On every first Friday of December, community members including San Luis Obispo High School Students enjoy either participating on a float or sitting on the street sides watching the locals waving, supporting their organizations, singing along to music, and spreading good cheer. 

  Downtown SLO released a statement that, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Holiday parade would be cancelled. 

  “With restrictions and community safety in mind, we will not be able to produce our traditional Holiday Parade in 2020,” said Downtown SLO CEO Bettina Swigger in the news release. 

  Downtown SLO is offering alternatives of the Holiday Parade to still spread the holiday cheer. The beloved event will still be missed this year by many but hopefully back in 2021. 

  “I was in the parade throughout middle school with Friday Night Live and I absolutely loved the momentum and just the energy of the parade was so positive. I saw people that I always recognized and I miss it so much. I attended it last year despite not being able to be on a float because it was such a positive tradition that SLO has,” said sophomore Izzy Nino De Rivera. 

  With December beginning and the holiday season and joy spreading, take time to radiate the positivity the Holiday Parade had in other social distant COVID-19 safe ways throughout our community! 

Sources: sanluisobispo.com  , downtownslo.com