Winter Park Hosts 44th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Jim Carchidi
More than 60 community organizations made their way down Park Avenue as green gala kicked off at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 5. Photos by Jim Carchidi
The community gathered in green on the afternoon of March 5 as more than 60 organizations marched, rode, danced, and tossed beads in the 44th annual Winter Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The merriment began with volunteers decorating floats on Comstock Avenue, finishing just before for the 2 p.m. start time. Firefighters and police departments from across the state joined veterans, Irish step dancers and pipers as miles of green beads and fistfuls of candy were tossed toward the masses lining both sides of the street.
This year, St. Patrick’s Day coincides with the first day of another Winter Park tradition: the 64th Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival.
See the photo gallery for highlights from the 44th annual Winter Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The parade begins with Winter Park Police and Fire Department Honor Guards carrying the colors. WESH 2 news anchor Meredith McDonough served as Grand Marshal.Members of the Reedy Creek Fire Department Pipes & Drums make their way down the parade route.Quartermaster Third Class Arthur Frongello served in the US Navy between 1939 and 1945. He was one of three World War II veterans in the paradeCity Commissioner Kris Cruzada dressed to impress on the City of Winter Park float.Firefighters from Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, and several other counties joined Winter Park Fire Department on the parade route.Retired Orange County firefighter Gary Davis has joined the parade for the past six years.There was no shortage of beads.First responders from across the state, and many from out-of-state, participated in the Coastal Florida Police and Fire Pipes & Drums.Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings greets guests from the motorcade.Representatives from Canine Companions for Independence dress for the occasion.Members of the Imperial Shriners Past Pontentate Winter Park Lodge make their way down Park Avenue in mini-motorized vehicles.Students of the Watters School of Irish Dancing stop for a quick performance. A bubble machine goes into overdrive on the Girl Scouts of St. Margaret Mary Catholic School float.The drummers, flag bearers and puppeteers of FusionFest delight the crowds with music and performances.A dragon makes its way down Park Avenue, courtesy of the CHARGE Dragon Boat team of the Chinese American Association of Central Florida. Members of the Orlando Chapter of New World Celts marched the parade route playing traditional Celtic music and dressing in ceremonial attire.
