The Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade brings out the young and young at heart...

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The Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade Brightens Up Everyone's Face!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

The downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade will bring the start of the holiday season right to your and your loved one's faces and put you and yours into the spirit of the holiday season.

The theme of the 2011 Parade was: Tropical Holiday; A sort of "Floribbean" (as we call it) themed parade.

This year's 2012, 17th Annual, Parade will boast some 4,000 participants. That's a lot of marchers, walkers, floats, cars, trucks, motorcycles and clowns!

The best float that keeps with the theme of the Sarasota Holiday Parade will win first prize: The Mayor's Trophy.

Traditionally held on the first Saturday of December at 7 p.m, Sarasota’s Holiday Parade started in 1995 and has become one of the largest and best known holiday parades along the Sun Coast.

Sarasota Downtown Holiday Parade

While the parade, which attracts some 25,000 observers, fills the downtown Sarasota air with the sights, sounds and magic of the holiday season for those in attendance, whether young or old, you'll take the spirit of the Sarasota Holiday Parade along with you when you leave.

It's a heart-warming experience to see the twinkle in the eyes of those who are young and young at heart.

Downtown Sarasota’s Main Street is blocked off to traffic and lined with viewers watching the parade under the city street lights with usually warm temperatures (mid 70s), warm hearts and “eyes all aglow!”

The annual kick off of the downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade

Sarasota Holiday Parade on downtown Main Street

Among the thousands of participants and brightly decorated floats are several live marching bands playing songs of the season.

There are also parade entries from school and community organizations as well as area businesses all helping to add a little more ho-ho-ho to the holiday season.

Attend the Sarasota Holiday Parade just once and you'll find out why it's one of the most popular annual "must-dos" on my Sarasota Events Calendar.

A string light Christmas Tree at the Sarasota downtown Holiday Parade

One of the nicer floats is a rolling Santa’s workshop from which toys in the workshop are donated to needy children of the area.

Sarasota Holiday Parade Float featuring Santas Workshop

The Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade on Main Street

Some of the groups represented in the parade range from 4-H Clubs to Cattleman’s groups, to the Shriners, antique car collecting clubs, High School Marching Bands, drill teams, Honor Guards, circus wagons, various children's groups and many others all getting into the spirit of the season.

Live music at the Sarasota Holiday Parade in downtown Sarasota Florida

And, of course, the guest of honor, Santa Claus, "rounds" out the parade and its annual finale along with an appearance by Mrs. Claus, too, riding though the downtown streets of Sarasota.

Santa Claus in the Sarasota Holiday Parade

Where: The Sarasota Downtown Holiday Parade route traditionally runs west along Main Street from Washington Boulevard and then heads out to Gulfstream Avenue. The parade lasts about two hours.

The streets on the parade route are blocked off to normal traffic a couple of hours in advance.

Santa in his sleigh at the downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade

Parade viewers are welcome to bring blankets to toss over the curbside to sit on and lawn chairs as well.

Parking is available downtown on streets and in lots other than those closed for the parade route.

It’s best to arrive about an hour early to find parking and a nice spot along the parade route from which to view the festivities.

Despite large crowds there are usually lots of places on the parade route that are less crowded and from where you can get a better view. You may just have to get there earlier and walk a little further to find them.

Santa on Main Street at the downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade

Peace and Love, Happy Holidays to you from Escape-to-Sarasota.com! (Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you no matter what time of year you're reading this. After all, all of us could use a little more holiday spirit throughout the year! Best holiday wishes to you and your family and loved ones.)

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