A determined group of Villagers has kept the parade spirit alive in The Villages.
The parade planning group met Monday and its members continue to nail down details of two upcoming parades — the Italian Parade on Oct. 8 and the Oktoberfest Parade on Oct. 22.
The individual “ethnic” clubs are not going it alone in their respective parades. All of the clubs have united to pull the parades together.
The group’s first effort, the Irish Parade, was organized in just six weeks and held in March. It was a huge success.
All of the clubs — four Irish clubs, two German clubs and two Italian clubs — share volunteer, planning and organizing responsibilities for all of the parades.
The Villages got out of the parade business at the squares.
Thus, residents have picked up the cause.
Here are the two upcoming parades:
• The Italian Parade will take place Oct. 8 in Spanish Springs Town Square.
Singer Mary Jo Vitale, who enjoys tremendous popularity here in The Villages, has agreed to perform at the parade, event organizers said at an organizational meeting this past week.
• The Oktoberfest parade is scheduled for Oct. 22. The entry deadline is Sept. 18. Contact Joan McDonald at joanmcdonald555@comcast.net for an application for your club for Oktoberfest.
The deadline for entry in the Italian parade was Sunday.
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 sallycanna48@gmail.com or call 259-5905.
