Everyone Loves a Parade

The holidays are a great time for pomp and circumstance. We deck our halls with light displays, ginormous Christmas trees, and oversize inflatable figures, and just because those aren’t enough, crowds head out to the neighborhoods that are most ornately and ostentatiously decorated to ooh and aah at others’ spectacles. Look no further today -- your one-stop hood for holidazzle is Coral Gables. At the 59th annual Junior Orange Bowl Parade, there’ll be floats and marching bands and plenty to gawk at.

This year’s honorary grand marshal is Barrington Irving, who made Miami proud by becoming the first black man and youngest individual to fly solo around the world. Behind Barrington will be a litany of bands from local schools, Girl Scout groups, and the Coral Gables Police and Fire Rescue. A cool collection of antique and collectible cars will join the route and cruise through downtown Coral Gables, followed by spectacular floats competing for a $1,000 prize. Grandstand tickets cost $10 each, but everyone is welcome to bring chairs to set up along the route and see the extravaganza for free. The parade begins on Biltmore Way, travels past city hall, ventures up Miracle Mile, and makes a stop along Ponce de Leon Boulevard.
Sat., Dec. 29, 2007