History Made at 49th annual Huntington Harbour Boat Parade

Byline: Taylor Hill

History Made at 49th annual Huntington Harbour Boat Parade

HUNTINGTON BEACH — After 49 years with men at the helm, Huntington Harbour Boat Parade organizers voted for a change, naming Jenn Huntsinger this year’s grand marshal.

The retired nurse was honored at the Nov. 21 Huntington Beach City Council meeting for her years of work on the parade staff, and she was congratulated for being named grand marshal.

In the parade’s 49 years of existence, no woman had previously been named grand marshal. But Calvin Free — last year’s recipient — decided to change that, recommending Huntsinger for the job.

“I am honored to be the first woman to serve as grand marshal,” Huntsinger said. She had been a lieutenant and night captain for the parade the past three years, and she served as chairman of the boat parade committee five times.

Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem Don Hanson presented Huntsinger with a certificate of appreciation for her years of work on the parade staff. “You might say you not only put a million cracks in that glass ceiling, you actually shattered it for the Huntington Harbour Boat Parade — so, congratulations on that achievement,” Hanson told Huntsinger.

“In my time learning about the boat parade firsthand, you see the effort it takes to put on the event — which many of us take for granted,” Hanson said.

This year’s parade was held Dec. 10 and 11, and the theme was “Island Serenade.”

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