When I first moved to Lakeland someone tried to describe the Annual Christmas Parade to me. It’s hard because for a city our size it is so unique. As Chuck mentioned this morning people lined the streets with their empty chairs over 12 hours before the parade started. Not only were chairs left out but from what I could tell most are actually left in the place where people put them. Still amazes me!
This year the parade was fantastic as usual. The night opened with the traditional fireworks. (To the left is a picture of the company assembling the fireworks platform.) There were over 100 floats varying from private businesses to schools to non-profits to politicians to other government agencies. Basically everything. In addition to the floats there were a variety of vendors and even an advertising plane flew around most of the night. As usual the parade ended with Santa Clause, pictured to the left. From our seats the parade lasted until a little past 9pm.
What about the Christmas Parade via the web. Well, there was quite a bit of bantering on twitter. For those missing out on seeing the parade in person it was broadcast on-line. I am not sure the official stat but it looked like a couple hundred were watching at one point from their computers. Personally, I find the intriguing for a city of Lakeland’s size. Amazing how the parade grows so does technology!
Overall I am thankful to the Junior League for their work putting together such a wonderful community event year after year. Thousands of people are blessed with an opportunity to enjoy such a great community event.
What a week downtown. The Holiday Walkabout on Tuesday, the kick-off to the American Idol Holiday Christmas Tour at the Polk Theatre on Wednesday and the Christmas Parade tonight. A great week for ringing in the 2009 Christmas Season in Lakeland. Events that truly make downtown Lakeland a “mecca of cool” and Lakeland a special place to call home.
Bio: Cat Carter first moved to Lakeland in 2001 to attend Florida Southern College. After graduation, she taught Computer Science and Math in a small Virginia town. In 2006, she returned to Lakeland for a two-year stint at the Lakeland Economic Development Council. A strong supporter of downtown Lakeland, Carter loves the Parker Street Neighborhood where she and her husband work together in the neighborhood revitalization team. In addition to other duties for the LEDC, Carter spearheaded Y Lakeland, a program aimed at retaining Lakeland's college graduates. The YLakeland blog quickly grew as one of Lakeland's most respected Web sites. The experience propelled her into the world of hyperlocal blogging where she will continue to write as one of the contributors to Lakeland Local.
