Sunset Beach No Parade crowd gathers in front of Sea, Sand and Jamie on North Pacific in Sunset Beach, California. Photo shows the small group ready to celebrate the holiday in NO- way.

Don't worry about big crowds for the Sunset Beach NO Parade. In most years you won't find them. There are few advertisements (if any), and very little preparation, except for the date.  Shown in the picture above is the group that gathered after sunset for the annual tradition, a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the contrast between the Huntington Harbour Christmas Boat Parade and Cruise of Lights across the channel back behind Sunset Island.

You know it must be Christmas in Sunset Beach when you wander down to the Pacific Ocean water line and see cement yard pelicans wrapped in gold garland. At night, you can drive along Pacific Street north and south to enjoy the cottage and castle decorations and lights that offer a unique alternative to the Huntington Beach uniformity.

The crowd above had come early to contribute to the party and celebrate the season with a fund-raiser for the volunteer Sunset Beach Fire Department. Jungle Juice, the Band, a regular at Perqs bar in Huntington Beach, rocked to the tunes of Led Zeppelin.

And as the crowd shuffled and talked, smiled and rocked, it was almost time for the NO Parade to begin. A flyer had announced a 6 p.m. start. The parade began around 6:25 p.m. If the crowd looks sparse, this is about how big the walking, wheelchair, bike and wagon-pulling attendance in the mile-long stroll is. Vehicles in the event numbered approx. 10 -15. Some dropped out along the way so it was tough measuring the exact numbers.