- April 29, 2024
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Grand Marshal Susan Phillips and Jim Seaton as Uncle Sam
Chad Myers and Joanna Wnuk wave to the crowd.
Chloe, J.R. and Claire Jurgensen
Camille Géhan decorates a car for the parade.
Steve Gianopolus and Sandy and Irina LaRose
Fire Rescue Chief Paul Dezzi, Police Chief Pete Cumming, Dee Harmer and Town Manager Tom Harmer
Jackson Scott and Liam Vaughn
Samuel Marse
Camille Géhan walks in the parade as the Statue of Liberty.
Peter Gehan takes a ride through the parade route.
Leilah Miller releases a butterfly.
Lilly and Grace Gerling won “Most Patriotic” in the Hot Diggity Dog Contest with their dogs Sailor and Davy Jones.
Uncle Sam with Anna and Julia Donnellan
Mila and Maddy Boyer-Martinez
Longboat Key commissioners Ken Schneier, Ed Zunz, Randy Clair and Jim Brown
Grand Marshal Susan Phillips waves to the crowd.
Kids in their most patriotic outfits walk the parade route.
The U.S. Coast Guard parades their new vessel on Bay Isles Road.
The Rotary Club of Longboat Key leads the dogs down Bay Isles Road.
Lenny and Susan Landau with Sammy
Dogs walked alongside their owners in the parade.
Members of the Longboat Key Garden Club are all smiles as they walk the parade route.
Steve Branham leads the Longboat Key Garden Club around Bay Isles Road.
Zuleika Zunz pops out of a sunroof during the parade.
Dogs wore their most patriotic outfits for the parade and Hot Diggity Dog contest.
Edward Jones Investments won the prize from Cannons Marina for best decorated float.
Dogs wore their most patriotic outfits for the parade and Hot Diggity Dog contest.
Cathy Bishop and Jack Black wave to the crowd.
Irina LaRose waves to the crowd as the Statue of Liberty on the Design 2000 Float.
Dogs wore their most patriotic outfits for the parade and Hot Diggity Dog contest.
Steven Newman waves to the crowd during the parade.
Suzy Brenner let her dog ride along the car during the parade.
Chris Wypiszynski, Ashley Maheu, Tommy McAdams and Joshua Stewart wave to the crowd from Junk King’s truck.
Horses from Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary walk the parade route.
Mary Ellen Forshey opens an envelope to release a butterfly.
Mallory and Grayson Montminy
Karen Bell paints Amelia Bridges’ face.
Bryson Chambers fills a plastic star with sand.
Susannah Holt tests out a game following the parade.
Maddy Boyer-Martinez makes sand art after the parade.
Mallory and Grayson Montminy pet a horse from Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary.
Uncle Sam with Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce President Gail Loefgren
McRae, Stedman and Hadley Wiggins
The Freedom Fest parade might be the world’s shortest, but that didn’t deter the crowd’s patriotic spirit Wednesday morning.
As soon as Freedom Fest Grand Marshal Susan Phillips waved to the crowd, the annual celebration began.
The 16th annual Freedom Fest had something for everyone as the all-American celebration was all about bringing the community together.
First was the parade stretching about a quarter-mile and looping around Bay Isles Road.
Longboat Key residents, visitors, clubs, business and even dogs walked the parade route while waving and throwing candy and beads to the crowd that had been lining the street since 8:30 a.m.
As the parade finished, the crowd gathered in Bicentennial Park for the Longboat Key Garden Club's Butterfly Release and the Rotary Club of Longboat Key’s Hot Diggity Dog costume contest. Following those, kids reveled in games, face painting and sand art.
For some, the parade has been a long-standing tradition. Longboat Key Chamber President Gail Loefgren, who plans the event each year, said the crowd was about the same size as last year, though there was more parade participation.
For others, though, this was a first-time experience. This year’s Freedom Fest was Camille Géhan and Addelyn Schoenfelder’s first time walking in a parade. Géhan was dressed as the Statue of Liberty, and Schoenfelder walked with Edward Jones Investments’ car, which won the contest for best decorated float. Both said throwing candy to bystanders was their favorite part.
“I think giving out candy,” Géhan said while Schoenfelder nodded in agreement.
And while the kids were enjoying all the activities, the adults were having fun watching their excitement.
Phillips’ said seeing all the kids was the best part but called the whole event exciting.
“It was the most fun I never thought I would have,” she said.
