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Entertainment

Parade, home tour set to mark season

Clearwater's annual Holiday Parade will march while a Tarpon Springs attraction opens for tours.

By TIFFANI SHERMAN
Published December 9, 2005

CLEARWATER - While some of the other holiday events this weekend let you sit and watch life go by, a couple of others will take you back in time.

In Clearwater, it will be pirate krewes, among other things, in the annual Holiday Parade. In Tarpon Springs, the historic Safford House will be open for a Victorian candlelight tour.

"It's a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit," said Judy LeGrath, 62, curator of the Safford House. "The candlelight tour is our holiday event."

The tour is a drop-in event from 5:30 to 8 p.m. every night through Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults, and free for children. Docents will be on hand to answer questions about the house.

The Safford house was built in 1883 and was the home of Anson P.K. Safford, one of Tarpon Springs' original developers. It's open during the day year-round, but the holiday tour is the only time it's open at night.

During the candlelight tour, period Christmas decorations fill the house, along with music and refreshments.

"It's a real trip back into the 19th century," LeGrath said. Live music will also fill the house each evening of the tour. Local Tarpon Springs musicians will play a 200-year-old piano tonight and Sunday night. An oboe player will perform Saturday night.

Tonight, music of the season will fill the streets of Clearwater during the annual Holiday Parade, which begins at 7 p.m. along the north side of Crest Lake Park. The parade winds down Cleveland Street to the intersection of East Avenue.

More than 100 groups are scheduled to walk the route, everything from Girl Scout troops to marching bands to pirate krewes.

"This is the one parade where we basically allow anyone who wants to (participate) to get in," said Bob Barry, 49, recreation coordinator for the city of Clearwater. "Basically, we want anyone who wants to be in a parade." Girl and Boy scout troops will start things off. Marching bands from Clearwater and Countryside high schools also will participate. "It's a pretty good mixture of all sorts of things," Barry said. Professionally built floats, choirs, classic cars and dancers are also signed up for the parade.

"It's a good community event," Barry said. "Most of the people in it are from Clearwater or the close surrounding communities."

The parade will also be on C-View Channel 15 later this month for those who can't attend.

"It's kind of nice for the people who were in it to watch it," Barry said. "They don't get to see the rest of the parade."

About 20,000 people line Cleveland Street each year to watch, so finding a parking space could be a challenge. Barry said garage and after-hours parking spaces will be available, but he asked paradegoers not to park in lots where businesses are still open.

The route is long enough, he said, so there will be many chances to find the perfect, legal spot.

"It's a long, straight stretch," Barry said.

The arrival of Santa Claus on a float will signal the end of the parade. He'll wave to everyone he passes, but won't be able to visit with kids.

"He's too busy this time of year."

[Last modified December 9, 2005, 01:19:17]