Parades are alive and well in The Villages, thanks in large part to a determined group of Villagers.
The Villages had planned to phase out parades at the squares and move instead to a single annual parade at the Villages Polo Fields.
But eight clubs — four Irish clubs, two Italian clubs and two German clubs — banded together and fought the decision.
There was plenty of push back, but the eight clubs dug in their heels. They appealed to the Amenity Authority Committee. And they were heard.
Earlier this year, an Irish parade was held in Spanish Springs Town Square.
The clubs had just a few short weeks to pull it together. And pull it together they did.
“The Irish parade was our stepping stone. We learned a lot,” said Villager Jackie Campbell who is working to get the Italian and Oktoberfest parades off the ground in October.
The Resident Parade Committee is accepting applications from clubs in The Villages for both the Italian and the Oktoberfest parades to be held in Spanish Springs Town Square.
The Italian Parade is scheduled for Oct. 8 and the entry deadline is Sept. 8.
Contact Maureen Curran at [email protected] for an application for your club for the Italian parade.
The Oktoberfest parade is scheduled for Oct. 22 and the entry deadline is Sept. 18. Contact Joan McDonald at [email protected] for an application for your club for Oktoberfest.
Volunteers needed
Volunteers are needed for both the Italian parade and the German parade.
Individuals are needed to walk the parade as marshals as well as individuals to help set up/breakdown the staging areas, check in participants at the staging tents, maintain the gate entrance at the staging area, park volunteers/participants in the staging area, maintain crossing areas on the parade route and clean up and organize the staging area and chairs along the parade route in order for the festivals to start up in an orderly fashion. If interested email Sally Canna at [email protected] or call 259-5905.
