Christmas In Paradise

December 8, 2018

 

 

Pony

Christmas In Paradise

One of the biggest and best events of the holiday season in Key West is the annual Christmas Holiday Parade which is generally held on the first Saturday evening of December. It is a huge and popular parade that this year featured over seventy entries from across a wide cross section of the Key West Community. Churches, schools, bands, businesses and civic organizations all create floats or walking entries for the parade which lasts at least a couple of hours.

 

As usual, I started off the evening at the annual pre-parade party hosted by our friends Craig and Holly. They live just down the street from the parade route and they invite friends over each year to gather and celebrate the season in advance of the parade, then the whole lot of us wander down the street where we have a great spot to watch the festivities.

 

Suzanne

 The parade is always lead by some of Key West’s finest as members of the KW Police and Fire departments including the wonderful horse patrol start things off, followed soon after by a string of cars holding local bigwigs like our new mayor and commissioners and more. Even the current and former Fantasy Fest kings and queens are given a place of honor in the parade. 

 

 

It seems every school and children’s organization in town has their own entry in the parade, everything from the Key West High School band, HOB cheerleaders, the Key West Sports Academy, the Bahama Village Music Association, any number of sports teams and leagues are there as well and one thing is immediately evident and that is that there are no shortage of kids living on the island.

 

From the literally thousands of kids who are featured in the parade in various groups, to the thousands more who line the street hoping to catch some of the tons of candy that is tossed from the floats to the waiting masses, there are kids everywhere. Kids lining the parade route seem to do better at scoring bags full of candy than they even do on Halloween. Candy litters the street curbs and sidewalk and children scurry after the handfuls of candy that are tossed from most of the floats.

Annie

Perhaps my favorite entry is the one from the Florida Keys SPCA which features volunteers walking the many dogs that are available for adoption currently in the parade. Hopefully some people along the route see a dog they may want to adopt, and if nothing else it gets the shelter dogs out and about among potential new owners. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Animal Farm is always represented as well as farmer Jeanne led a couple of holiday clad goats along the parade route.

 

Kate

Craig and Billy

During the parade, I made my way down to the Conch House guest house where owner Sam Holland hosts one of the best holiday parties ever year during and after the parade. It is always a great gathering that is packed with friends enjoying the parade and the holiday spirit. I love it because it is always a fantastic party, but also because everyone is in such festive spirits. The parade is awesome and seems to put everyone in a happy celebratory spirit.

Sam and Richard

The Key West holiday parade is easily one of the best holiday parades that I have had the good fortune to see, I know it is one thing that Kathy is really disappointed to miss. Speaking on the phone with her later, she vowed never to travel during the Key West parade and holiday season again, though I know she is enjoying her time in New Mexico.