Scenes from the 72nd Annual Winter Park Christmas Parade
Jim Carchidi
Santa Claus joined the fun for another year of Winter Park's oldest holiday tradition. Photos by: Jim Carchidi
Ye Olde Hometown Christmas Parade took over Park Avenue on the morning of December 7 for another successful march. More than 80 organizations, including businesses, schools, and local nonprofits, participated in the event, hosted each year by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.
Chilly temperatures couldn’t keep the crowds away as residents and visitors began arriving hours before the 9 a.m. start time to stake out their spots. Floats were assembled and bands practiced along Cole Avenue while patient spectators bundled up in blankets and sipped coffee and cocoa.
See the photo gallery for highlights of the 72nd Annual Winter Park Christmas Parade.
Spectators keep warm as temperatures hovered just above 40 degrees in the early morning hours of December 7.Volunteers keep warm and stay busy adding the finishing touches to parade floats.Miller Grant & Company presented a sweet holiday scene on their float.Goodwill to men and gingerbread men.Peter and Lynne Mason and Stacey Austin arrived on Park Avenue at 7:30 a.m. to claim their spot on the parade route. They each have been attending the event since the 1980s.Winter Park Fire-Rescue Department has its own float, ready to go.Santa’s helpers toss candy from Winter Park Police Department’s armored vehicle.Winter Park High School flag corps makes its way up Park Avenue.The “Sound of the Wildcats” Marching Band follows with some festive tunes.Orlando City Soccer Club mascot, Kingston, on the Orlando Health float.UCF Cheerleading greets the crowd.Plenty of candy was tossed and handed out along the route.Mariachi Internacional Tapatio make their yearly appearance in the parade.The Orange County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard carries the colors.Festive decor isn’t limited to floats as pets get into the holiday spirit.Pipe and drum corps from Lake Buena Vista and Daytona Beach join the parade.Model A’s of Greater Orlando give their vintage rides a holiday makeover.World War II veteran Mel Jenner rode with the Model A’s. Jenner served as a gunner in the Army Air Corps 452nd Operations Group and on June 6, 1944, he document the Allied invasion during a photo reconnaissance mission over Normandy.The BASE Camp Children’s Cancer Foundation vehicle carries campers’ names and handprints.The 1Up Martial Arts float had a real-life Rock ’em Sock ’em Robots game.A rock band plays Jingle Bell Rock on Park Avenue District’s Christmas on Park float.The Edgewater High School Eagle Band played more festive tunes as they marched the parade route.A dragon is perched on the float by Chuan Fu Chinese restaurant.Dancers from Stone Dance Academy’s production of The Nutcracker.The float everyone’s been waiting for: Santa Claus arrives on Park Avenue.Mrs. Claus makes spectators feel at home as she accompanies Santa on his ride.
