Families line the streets as kids bounce up and down on the curb. A siren sounds, signaling the start of the 86th annual Arroyo Grande Holiday Parade.

The police department kicked off the parade with an old police car Anthony Hopkins used in his movie “The World’s Fastest Indian.” They were the first of many groups to march down the Village.

“[My favorite float in the parade was] the big Lemos truck because it reminds me of my Papa,” Madison Mierau (‘25) said.

SLO County’s official group of golden retrievers were also featured in the parade.

“The little golden retrievers walking and wanting to say ‘hi’ to everyone [was adorable],” Lainee McCune (‘25) said.

Both the humans and dogs participating in the parade were able to socialize with each other.

“The [golden retriever] puppies get really excited to see each other and [the people attending the parade],” AP European History teacher Kelli Peters said. “It’s a really good time.”

Peters is apart of the SLO County’s Golden Retriever community along with her golden retriever, Buck—named after Brutus Buckeye, the mascot of Peters’s alma mater, Ohio State.

“[SLO county’s Golden Retriever community] reserve a spot in the Arroyo Grande Christmas parade and walk there,” Peters said. “It’s just a chance for all the dogs to get together.”

Last year was Peters’s first year participating in the parade. She planned to attend this year as well; however, was met with an obstacle.

“There’s a respiratory virus that is going around in dogs that is very dangerous and deadly,” Peters said. “I was too worried about the risk of going with a lot of other dogs and decided to sit this parade out.”

Several AGHS members participated in this holiday event. The AGHS Band, Color Guard, and Cheer team marched in this year’s parade.

“[Being in the parade] was really fun,” AGHS cheerleader Lucy Anslem (‘25) said. “I [was able] to do it with some of my friends from cheer, and seeing all the people [was exciting].”

Anselm finds that this holiday parade gets her in the spirit for Christmas. Pre-AP English and AP Seminar teacher Ashley Kim shared the joy sparked by this festive event.

“It is the first Christmas event that [the town does], and it kicks off the [holiday] season,” Kim said.

Kim has gone to the parade for the past two years and enjoys the small town feel of the event.

“Everybody in the town is coming together, and it [feels very] ‘Gilmore Girls,’” Kim said.

Residents of Arroyo Grande enjoy their small town traditions and appreciate the Christmas spirit of the Holiday Parade.