VIDEO: Parade decks downtown Sarasota with holiday cheer
Sarasota kicks off the holiday season with lions and tigers and Santa Claus (oh my)!
By
Anna Brugmann
| 1:52 a.m. December 4, 2016
Sarasota
Neighbors
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As residents began to pack the sidewalks along the parade route, Main Street between East Avenue and U.S. 301was in a frenzy of holiday spirit.
Dance studios were practicing their routines and performers were practicing their set list, their music mixing together.
The parade featured classic floats such as the Circus Conservatory and Big Cat Habitat's mobile zoo, which feature a lion, tiger and a lion-tiger hybrid called a tigon. Yet, even in the face of all the fan fair, it was clear who everyone was waiting for — Santa.
As Santa Claus made his way down Main Street to finish the parade, fake show showered the parade goers.
Even after Santa Claus finished his route through downtown and the crowds dispersed the holiday cheer was there to stay as families wished each other a happy holiday season.
Jaden Araujo, natalie Araujo and Diego Jaimes practice their dance moves while waiting for the parade to begin.
Cecilia Contreras and Andrea Mondragon sit on the Harbor Community Bank float before the parade began Saturday evening.
Kelsey Fisher, Lizzy House and Javier Negron road on the Sarasota High School theater group’s float.
Barbara Sanchez investigates the lights on the back of the Reflec Dance Studio float.
Emilia Huyck
Photo 6: Kaylynn Sullivan laughs while playing with her toy horn before the Holiday Parade.
Joshua Compton and Iyanni Webster
Ashton Mahle and Liam Williams
Zoe Ganley and Victor Garcia wait for the parade to start on the back of the Sarasota High School theater group’s float.
Lila Watkins practices her routine on the The Circus Arts Conservatory float before the parade began Saturday evening.
Andy Berster makes some final adjustments on Sarasota Crew’s float.
Gabriella Huff, Bella Brost and Chelsea March pose next to the Reflex Arts Dance float before the parade.
Gabriella Huff practices her routine.
Salvation Army Major Ethan Frizzell marches in the Holiday Parade Saturday evening in downtown Sarasota.
Louis Santora and Noah Casagnol ride on Foundation’s Academy’s float.
Booker High School student Jessica Linares
Booker High School color guard captain Imani Goddard dances in the downtown Holiday Parade.
Reynalise Allen blows on her toy horn during the Holiday Parade Saturday evening in downtown Sarasota.
Ethan and Andrew Hitt
Armani Lee reacts to seeing the Big Cat Habitat float, which featured live lions and tigers.
Brooke Campbell, Skye Campbell, Dellanee Fleming and Valya Taylor
Music Compound instructor Savannah Brady marches in the Downtown Holiday Parade.
Bruno Cruz waves while riding on the Boy Scout’s float.
Charlie marches in the parade with Sarasota In Defense of Animals.
Lily Mae Stewart sings on the Music Compound Float.
Nelson Wintringhan
The Sarasota Circus Conservatory float makes its way down Main Street during the downtown Holiday Parade.
Sloane Wade rides a unicycle in the downtown Holiday Parade.
Stage Door Studios created a Radio City Music Hall themed float for the Downtown Holiday Parade.
Paddi Juliano, Debbie Freund, Steve Freaud, Mico Juliano, Evan Tepfer, Sean Freund and Drew Pintacuda
Mason Green points at the parade floats.
Alan Guttrige drives an antique car in the Downtown Holiday Parade.
