Avon Park Kicks Off Area's Christmas Parades

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AVON PARK - Patty Phillips remembered seeing this parade when she was only 2 years old. Her mother, Cheryal Phillips, said she went to them ever since the city began having them.

"We go to them every single year," said Patty, a 26-year-old Avon Park native.

It became a family tradition for the Phillips, and Patty sat on the curb near the corner of Main Street and Butler Avenue with her two daughters, Madison and Morgan.

For about an hour and a half, Avon Park's Main Street became "A Winter Wonderland," following the theme of the Avon Park Chamber of Commerce's 2007 Christmas Parade. It went on through temperatures near 80 degrees, uninterrupted by a slight drizzle and a blown fuse that cut out some of the spotlights before the parade.

According to David Greenslade, executive director of the Avon Park Chamber of Commerce, "thousands" of spectators and "hundreds" of participants came downtown to see 92 floats, sleighs, buggies, antique cars, dance troupes, dirt bikes and a few loud lawn mowers. He declined to give a more precise figure on the crowds.

Santa himself came to town on the back of an Avon Park Fire Department engine, along with the Avon Park High School cheerleading squad.

So between those, the horses, the Nativity scenes, the live bands, the snow men, Santa and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, what was Lowan Burns most eager to see?

"I'm looking for candy!" the 7-year-old Lowan said, smiling as he sat on the curb of the mall.

His grandmother, Ruth Gobourne, said this was the third time she took Lowan to the Avon Park Christmas Parade. More than 30 years ago, she said she was a part of it, marching as a cheerleader for APHS.

Several came from out of town to see the parade. Carl Fish, who drove down from Lake Wales, said he and his children enjoyed seeing Santa at the end of the whole procession. His youngest son ran around with a french fry container-full of candy from the parade, enough to last him five minutes, an older relative suggested.