Jubilant crowd attends Lee County Spirit of Christmas Parade and Festival
A good time had by all at the Lee County Spirit of Christmas Parade and Festival
By Jon Gosa
LEESBURG — Lee County’s 28th annual Spirit of Christmas Parade and Festival kicked off Saturday at 8 a.m. drawing a large, jubilant crowd to downtown Leesburg in celebration of the holiday season.
Vendors set up along Starksville Avenue serving up a variety of food and fun including hot dogs, hamburgers, funnel cakes and snow cones. Visitors could purchase memorabilia including t-shirts and other Christmas themed items.
The parade began at 10 a.m. near Lee County Health and Rehab on Main Street and proceeded through downtown past the courthouse as spectators lined the streets to wave on the procession of cheerleaders, floats, bands, classic cars, muscle cars, dancers and more, all decorated with Christmas cheer.
“We have over 40 vendors and over 100 entries this year,” said Lesley Barbosa, director of operations for the Lee County Chamber of Commerce. “We also have live entertainment, which includes The Dance Company, Twin Oaks Elementary School’s fourth-grade performance music group, the Lee County High School Chorus and the Seventh Hour Jazz Band. There are pony rides, train rides and bouncy houses for the kids and Santa Clause will end the parade.”
Many of the parade’s participants gave out candy during the event, throwing handfuls of tootsie rolls, suckers and peppermints to excited children.
The Grinch made an appearance riding atop a Lee County Fire truck dressed in a Santa outfit, but did not steal any presents or diminish the holiday spirit. Perhaps his heart grew more than three sizes as the crowd waved and shouted, “Merry Christmas!”
“I love the parade, I come every year,” young Drew White of Leesburg said while gathered with three friends along Main Street.
The boys hastily grabbed candy and pointed to the several approaching classic muscle cars that were rounding the bend. When asked what their favorite part of the parade was, they all agreed the cars were “the coolest.”
“Santa Claus is the grand marshal and ends the parade around 11:30,” Barbosa said. “After the parade the live entertainment begins. It really is a great time.”
It was clear by the excitement of the crowd and the smiles on everyone’s faces that the Spirit of Christmas Parade and Festival is a beloved yearly event for the community.
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