Each year Sun N Fun, our winter campground in Sarasota, schedules a "Homecoming Parade" in early February. Groups (i.e., the PIckleballers, Tennis Players, Theater Players, Woodshop, Veterans, etc;) and even individuals get together and decide on a theme … as corporations and cities do for major national parades in which they participate. As golf carts are the most popular mode of transportaiton around Sun N Fun, they are often decorated and become the centerpieces of group "floats".
In the past, we've missed this event so made a point of sitting accross from the park's Lake Ibis
along the parade route … and by invitation at the home of one of the women I (just one of two men) walks with several mornings a week.
Many of the people whose homes border the route don't just ask you to bring a chair to sit in, they put out an incredible spread; fruit, meatballs, chicken tenders, chips & crackers, salsa, hummis, desserts, water, soft drinks and even burbon!
The parade was, as usual, lead by a color guard of U.S. and Canadian veterans.
followed by another groupd of vets carrying Old Glory.
Just a few of the groups and individuals …
Korean and World War II Veterans
Vietnam Veterans
A League of their Own
There's no crying in baseball!
The Wizard of Oz
The Woodworking Group
These woodwokers turn out some incredibly amazing products
Pickleball Players – 101 Dalmations
Grease
Model Sailboat Racing Club
My Fair Lady
Tennis Players – Cleopatra
Bagpipes
The parade was great to watch and it was obvious that the several hundred participants had spent a great deal of time and had a lot of fun preparing for their "big day" along Lake Drive. we will be sure to take it in again next year!