'Anything goes' at golf cart parade
Scaled down this year, the festivities at Freedom Plaza will include electric cars, clowns and about 50 decorated golf carts.
By JAY CRIDLIN
Published December 17, 2004
Last year's holiday parade might have drawn 306 golf carts to the streets of Sun City Center. But it didn't have a llama.
That's one thing this year's revamped parade has going for it. It might be a smaller affair, but it'll have exotic livestock.
"It can be anything goes," said organizer Sally Nichols. "We're quite excited."
This year's parade, pulled together at the last minute by Nichols and a few volunteers, will take place at 9 a.m. today at Freedom Plaza, 1010 American Eagle Blvd.
Nichols expects a parade of about 50 carts, barely a sixth of last year's Guinness World Record total and the smallest number since 1999.
But the parade will include bicycles, electric cars, clowns and the llama, which belongs to the daughter of a Freedom Plaza resident.
Sheriff-elect David Gee and County Commissioner Ronda Storms have accepted invitations to be there, and Nichols expects a solid mix of residents, clubs and businesses to enter decorated carts.
Like last year, there will be a contest for the best decorated cart. Only this time, all the carts will compete against one another.
"We're not breaking it down into business or resident or anything like that," Nichols said. "Our categories are Most Innovative, Most Technically Advanced Design, Best Overall, Most Creative and Best Holiday Theme."
Led by Nichols, Freedom Plaza won the grand prize last year with a cart decorated as an airplane. This year, the retirement community plans to enter a cart decked out as a train.
Parade participants and Freedom Plaza residents will gather for hot chocolate, doughnuts and an award ceremony afterward.
It's not too late to sign up, Nichols said. There will be a registration table at Freedom Plaza this morning so last-minute participants can sign up.
Jay Cridlin can be reached at 661-2442 or cridlin@sptimes.com
If you goThis year's Sun City Center Golf Cart Parade takes place at 9 a.m. today at Freedom Plaza, 1010 American Eagle Blvd. The parade route runs around Freedom Plaza; part of American Eagle Boulevard will be closed until about 10 a.m. Parade organizers will be registering carts on-site. Call Freedom Plaza at 642-1265.