Parents and Grandparents too brought along the kids to experience the snow falling down 7th Avenue in GaYBOR/ Ybor City for the Holiday Spirit Parade. The forecasted snow flurry had area middle and high school marching bands showing off there best musical talents for the holiday gigantic crowds. The precision dance groups were all in step! The beautiful white horses and white carriage had Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and his wife, Cathy and 2 beautiful smiling daughters lead the 1st annual promenade procession with over 30,000 parade watchers. Behind the mayor was a large entourage from GaYBOR District Coalition including Mama, holding banners for each of the marching, dance and drill team groups. The highlight of course was welcoming Santa & Mrs Claus to the historic district riding in beauteous pair of leather harnessed horses & sparkling holiday carriage. Under the leadership of Mathieu Stanoch, Florida Entertainment Group Visual director, local groups helped make this event happen including YCDC, Ybor Merchants Assoc., Tampa Parks Dept and GaYBOR District Coalition all came together to make a very memorable gleeful night.

The parade ended at the Winter Carnival in the Czar parking lot. The weather was perfect. The clear skied night was very festive. All band and dance group troop members received special gift bags from Ybor merchants and Santa Claus.

The carnival had local merchants riding the rides and maneuvering through mechanical thrill rides. Freddy from NY NY Pizza had his family taking on the colorful lighted mechanical beasts. Don Vicente Inn’s Jack Shiver, Tessa and Veronica  hitting the sideshows. Alan Kahana and friends munched on the sugar candies as Santa & Mrs Claus greeted 1000’s of kids (old & young) giving away cookies in the holiday tent. YCDC’s economic director Brenda Thrower had her family riding the slides for the Tampa TV program, “Ybor Flavors”. Kudos to all the groups working together making for a great weekend in Historic Ybor City.