To the delight of several thousand people who lined the route for last Saturday’s 31st annual Vero Beach Christmas Parade, there was only a brief shower early on as parade participants made their way along Ocean Drive. The parade, hosted by the Oceanside Business Association and the Sunrise Rotary Club, kicked off with a Candy Cane 3K run, followed by 73 parade entrants who danced, marched and thoroughly entertained the crowds from Flamevine Lane to Jaycee Park.
“We all looked like wet rats but these people are just so dedicated,” said OBA Events Coordinator Karen Dodson about the many volunteers and participants who had set up the parade floats during earlier torrential downpours. Only six participants canceled due to the weather.
“Everybody was very flexible,” said Al Benkert, OBA logistics coordinator. “All of them at Riverside Park [the staging area] dealt with the water and the mud and everyone was super. There may have been less of a crowd this year because of the rain but their spirit was really wonderful.”
“It seemed much more put together than past years,” said Chris Bieber, who came with a crowd of children, friends and family and hosted a tailgate party. In spite of the weather, the consensus was that all the participants did an especially great job; particularly the crowd-pleasing Vero Beach High School Band.
“They had great floats and it moved smoothly. I think it was really well done this year,” said Bieber’s mother, Carolyn Redfield.
Once all the floats of church groups, service organizations, businesses and local law enforcement, along with few dogs and a contingent of horses passed by, it was time for the grand finale. As totally enthralled children looked on, the DuBose Jewelers winning entry, bedecked with thousands of twinkling lights, arrived carrying Santa and his sleigh led by eight dazzling reindeer.
“The kids are the best part,” said Santa (aka Ron Davidson). “The really amazing thing about this parade is the community. Everybody from both sides of the river put so much into it. For a small town it really is incredible. Everyone joins together to make it a great community event, and that is what it is all about.”