After a successful and fun-filled Italian Parade this past week, the Resident Parade Committee met Monday to assess last week’s parade in preparation for the anticipated Oktoberfest Parade.
That parade will step off at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Spanish Springs Town Square.
Parade committee member Jim Kozinski said last week’s Italian Parade set a record by making eight stops for performers to entertain the audience lining the route. Prior to that, only six stops were made during a parade.
Mike Jeakle and Jean Gallagher, stopwatch parade marshals, were responsible for facilitating the parade’s movement. Their “tandem act,” as Kozinski described it, provided for the three-minute performances along the route.
Nearly 90 volunteers will be involved in the upcoming parade.
Wearing red shirts, the volunteers will be meeting at 10 a.m. in the parking lot behind the Rialto Theater to set up for all of the groups participating in the parade. Kozinski emphasized the importance of making sure that people do not cross the parade route during the event.
Kirk Freundt, who is heading the Oktoberfest Parade, said there will be an estimated 180 golf carts and roughly 800 people involved in the parade.
Some of the participants featured in the parade are the mayor and chief of police of Lady Lake, the Deutscher Club Beer Steins, The Villages High School Band, Hau Oli Hula Halau, Villages German Band, and World of Beer. Many groups who participated in the Italian Parade will also be making appearances in the Oktoberfest Parade as well.
The Resident Parade Committee is also thankful to the Villages Recreation Department which has been an essential partner for the past three years.
