By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
As Plant City’s annual Christmas Parade takes to the streets this Friday, it will do so with some significant changes.
Parade organizers met with participants Nov. 26, to discuss several new rules and regulations.
Perhaps the most exciting change is the addition of a judges panel, which will score each participant. Three mystery, out-of-town judges will be seated near McCall Park.
Performing participants, such as high school bands, dance and cheer teams, will perform their routines in an area in front of the judges. Floats also will be judged in this area.
Float judging will be based on the time and effort put into the float, its appearance and whether it represents Plant City and its hometown feel. An award will go to one overall winner, which will receive the best spot as a featured float in the Christmas Parade next year. If the competition turns out to be successful, more awards and more prizes will be added in the future.
“We’re very excited about it,” Dodie White, committee member, said.
“Each year we want to make better and improve the quality of the parade and raise the bar,” Davy Miles, chairman of the Christmas Parade board, said.
Another change to the parade is the addition of a safety inspection before the start of the parade. Each float will have to be inspected in a roped off area around the corner of West Grant and South Evers streets.
In previous years, parade floats and participants gathered in the Big Lots parking lot. This year, the store will not allow participants to gather in their parking lot; the new staging area is on Grant Street.
Furthermore, each float must comply with city code. Any trailers must have wheels underneath the frame or platform. No outrigger or protruding-style wheels will be allowed. The wheels can’t be boxed in if they protrude, but the float design can have something covering protruding wheels as long as it runs the total length of the trailer, from the tongue to the end.
If the float doesn’t pass the safety inspection, it will not be able to be in the parade.
“As everybody knows, safety is the most important thing,” Miles said.
In 2007, 9-year-old Jordan Hays died after an accident involving a float as he was passing out candy. A report by the city states the float’s design played a part in the death.
In addition to the safety inspections, walkers also will have to be 13 years of age or older. They also must pass out candy, not throw it, to the crowd.
“The committee has put a lot of time and effort into this parade,” Miles said. “I always joke that the meetings take longer than the parade. I think it’s great that the city lets us have a true Christmas parade.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
IF YOU GO
Christmas Parade
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7
WHERE: Parade will start at the corner of Grant and Alsobrook streets. It ends at the corner of Reynolds and Michigan streets.
PRIME LOCATION
Davy Miles, chairman of the Christmas Parade board, hinted at the best place to stand.
“Anywhere by McCall Park,” he said.
OTHER FESTIVITIES
The parade is just one of many Christmas celebrations taking place this week in Plant City.
Lights of Love
WHEN: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at McCall Park, Historic Downtown Plant City
INFORMATION: (813) 757-8478
“Christmas by Candlelight”
WHEN: 6 and 8 p.m. Dec. 8
WHERE: Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 1107 Charlie Griffin Road, Plant City
INFORMATION: (813) 444-8863
Christmas in the Park
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 8
WHERE: Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Center, 1601 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Plant City
INFORMATION: (813) 659-4255
East Hillsborough Historical Society 20th Holiday Celebration
WHEN: 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 8
WHERE: 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St.
INFORMATION: (813) 757-9226
Santa’s Workshop
WHEN: 9 a.m. Dec. 8
WHERE: First United Methodist Church, 303 N. Evers St., Plant City
INFORMATION: (813) 754-3519
“Christmas on Gilligan’s Island”
WHEN: 6 p.m. Dec. 9
WHERE: First Baptist Church of Dover, 3223 N. Gallagher Road, Dover
INFORMATION: (813) 719-2273
Season of Joy
WHEN: 9 to 10:15 a.m. Dec. 9
WHERE: Plant City Church of God, 2103 Mud Lake Road, Plant City
INFORMATION: (813) 752-4591
Strawberry Crest Band Holiday Concert
WHEN: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 11
WHERE: Strawberry Crest High School, 4691 Gallagher Road, Dover
INFORMATION: (813) 707-7522