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Forecast: Snow, Santa, Widely Scattered Lights

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By RAY REYES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 6, 2007

PLANT CITY - Yuletide cheer reaches a fever pitch this week with Christmas events that include appearances by the Jolly Old Elf.

The largest of the festivities, the 24th annual Plant City Christmas Parade, starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday and rolls through the historic downtown district.

The parade, featuring more than 100 floats decked out to ring in the Christmas season, begins at Collins and Alsobrook streets, heads north on Collins then east on Reynolds Street to Michigan Avenue.

Plant City businesses will have floats in the parade along with city commissioners, state Rep. Rich Glorioso and Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson.

There also will be "a host of beauty queens" including Florida Strawberry Festival Queen Summer Pippin and her court, Plant City and Durant high school calendar girls, and many more, parade organizer Fran Neilsen said.

Vic Larsen, a retired schoolteacher and Plant City resident, has been named the grand marshal of the parade, Neilsen said.

The highlight of the parade is the arrival of Santa Claus. His mode of transportation in the parade is "a very closely guarded secret," Neilsen said. In previous years, Santa has traded his sled for vehicles ranging from a motorized hot dog to a rocket launcher.

Once St. Nick is revealed near the end of the parade, the eyes of children lining the route are "visibly full of stars," Neilsen said.

For information on the parade, call the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce at (813) 754-3707.

Another Christmas-themed event starts about the same time the parade rolls through downtown streets. The city's Winter Lights Spectacular is from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at McCall Park at Collins and Drane streets. Admission is free.

Scenes featuring holiday themes will be displayed at the park, arts and crafts vendors and food booths will line the sidewalks and the event will be awash in the glow of holiday lights, said Stephen Rossiter, events coordinator for the city's Recreation and Parks Department.

Scenes include a tribute to "The Nutcracker," a Christmas candy land, the North Pole, Santa's toy shop and a winter waterfall, Rossiter said.

On Saturday, 15 tons of snow will be trucked in and McCall Park will be transformed into an ice mountain, Rossiter said.

There will be live entertainment, and children's activities will include arts and crafts booths, inflatable bounce houses and slides, Rossiter said.

Santa Claus also will make an appearance Saturday for children to have their picture taken with him for $5.

For information on the Winter Lights Spectacular, call Rossiter's department at (813) 659-4255.

The official beginning of Plant City's festivities takes place 6:45 p.m. today at the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at McCall Park. The ceremony will include holiday choir music.

From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., children can have their picture taken with Santa for $5 at Billie's Craft Supplies & Gifts, 108 N.E. Drane St.

Drane Street will be closed between Palmer and Collins streets at 4 p.m.

The South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation is selling sponsorships of tree lights to raise money for the hospital pediatrics department. For information, call the foundation at (813) 757-8478.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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