LOS ANGELES — Santa Claus is coming to town for the 91st annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, and this year, he’ll have company. The rehabilitated Grinch will be joining him on the parade route.  

“My heart’s grown. I like Christmas a little more,” the green one explained. “I’ve rebranded.”

The former villain is in Southern California with “How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical,” which is playing at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre from Dec. 6 to Dec. 17 and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts from Dec. 19 to 26.

The Hollywood Christmas Parade features Toys for Tots, an annual campaign started by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1947. In 2022 alone, the program distributed over 24 million toys, books and games to disadvantaged children.

Lt. Col. John C. Huenefeld is with the 3rd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company in Bell and oversees the Los Angeles South Toys for Tots campaign.

“I’d have to give the Grinch a pretty stern order to be not so stingy this year,” he said. “Maybe open up that big ‘ole heart of his and give to the Marines.”

The Pantages is one of many Toys for Tots collection sites around SoCal, where families can drop off new, unwrapped gifts this holiday season. For details visit toysfortots.org.