Ocean Drive came alive with the magic of the holiday season during the annual Vero Beach Christmas Parade hosted by the Sunrise Rotary Club of Vero Beach. The delighted crowd was mesmerized by the procession of floats and boats that traveled along Ocean Drive, each ablaze with twinkling lights.

Parade-goers arrived adorned with lights and dressed in their festive attire, from Christmas jammies and reindeer antlers to striped socks and Ho-Ho-Ho shirts. Families came early to stake out perfect viewing spots, while others grabbed seats at local restaurants and bars to wait it out by indulging in a different kind of holiday spirit. For many, the event offered the opportunity to throw private parties at businesses and houses along the way.

A field of runners tested the parade route in the Mistletoe 2-Mile Run/Walk while children decorated cookies and built gingerbread houses outside the Portales de Vero building.

As the last hints of sunlight gave way, the parade kicked off with the IRC Sheriff’s office and the Vero Beach High School Marching Band, followed by a dizzying array of more than 90 floats, which all “sleighed” the day and showcased holiday messages in creative ways.

Santa’s arrival high atop his sleigh marked the end of the parade and the start of the holiday season in Vero Beach, leaving in its wake the warmth of community spirit lingering in the air.

Photos by Joshua Kodis