Marching into Christmas

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

AVON PARK -- As it has done for years, the City of Charm will lead off the Christmas season, marching out the county's first parade the Monday after Thanksgiving. That is Nov. 30. Santa's workshop is the theme.

The parade starts at 7 p.m. It begins on Anoka Street, and moves down the south side of Main Street to City Hall.

That means traffic will be affected.

The eastbound lanes of Main Street will close to vehicles at 5:30 p.m., but the westbound lanes will remain open.

Streets crossing Main Street will close at 6 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce CEO and president David Greenslade said he is expecting 85 to 90 entries for the parade.

In addition to the floats, dance schools will strut their stuff and bands from public schools will perform.

Food will be available from a concession stand raising funds for the Avon Park High School band.

Greenslade urges everyone to bring lawn chairs as there will be no bleachers this year. People should park on the side streets, but avoid the Anoka area as the parade forms up there and the streets will be very congested, especially the intersections of Anoka and Pleasant Street and Winthrop Street.

Greenslade also urged people to come out. Comcast Cable, which in the past has broadcast the parade live, will not be able to do so this year. While the parade will be videotaped for later broadcast on the community access television station, up close and in person is the best way to experience it, Greenslade said.