Winter Park
officially kicks off Christmas season with its annual parade.
Linda Files had a little bit of an extra spring in her step Saturday as Winter Park’s annual Christmas parade, an event she eagerly anticipates every year, passed by outside her specialty shop on Park Avenue.
She arrived early at The Spice & Tea Exchange to watch her community kick off the holiday season.
“That’s what Christmas is all about,” Files said. “It’s about the hope and joy of the season. It’s a good feeling.”
More than 90 groups, organizations, elected officials and school marching bands shuffled, drove, honked and danced their way down Park Avenue on Saturday. Among them were the Orlando Magic, Walt Disney World, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings and several Winter Park businesses.
For more than 90 minutes, Winter Park’s main commercial roadway was shut down to make room for the parade, which ended with a visit from Santa Claus on a vintage firetruck.
Bubbles and confetti cannons kept the crowd entertained as children and adults angled for candy being tossed to them.
Before the parade, fathers played catch, families pushed strollers and dogs walked in front of owners down the center of Park Avenue.
Conrad Miller and Jacqie Buchner sat along the curb anticipating the start of the parade.
They both work in retail and said the holiday season can be pressure-filled.
However, spending a morning watching the parade took their minds off of the busy month ahead.
“It’s tough this time of the year working retail,” Miller said. “But this brings back to me what the season is about.”
The parade route was lined with visitors from nearby cities.
Matt Bryant, who lives in Maitland, brought his wife and two children to the festivities.
He said his hope for the Christmas season is to see more people live in harmony just as they were able to enjoy the parade together.
“You just hope this brings back kindness,” Bryant said. “I just want to see us work to get along.”
Park Avenue, one of the more-popular shopping locations in the region, is often busy on Saturday.
However, during the Christmas parade, there is a different feel to the shopping, said Jennifer Schroeder, who operates the fair-trade product retailer Ten Thousand Villages.
“It’s fun seeing the community come together,” she said. “You see people get excited. It’s great to see.”
The Winter Park “Ye Olde Hometown” Christmas Parade has been a tradition since 1953.
It is sponsored by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. Volunteers help run the parade.
Tom Rossello, who has been helping organize the event for 27 years, said the Chamber had to turn some proposed floats away this year because so many groups were interested.
As he traveled behind the parade in a golf cart, he marveled at the excited children scrambling to catch a glimpse of St. Nicholas or grab some candy.
“You look around and look at the faces of the children
“You look around and look at the faces of the children around here, it’s beautiful.” Longtime parade volunteer Tom Rossello
around here, it’s beautiful,” he said. “Watching the kids when they see Santa or the Disney characters, it’s great.”
Gail Jackson of Altamonte Springs could be found handing out moviethemed goodies to the eager crowds Saturday.
“It’s a season of giving and helping out,” she said. “This is a fun thing to do. It’s a community coming together.”