The Oceanside Business Association and the Sunrise Rotary club will again be sponsoring the annual Vero Beach Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 7th at 5:30PM on Ocean Drive! It was announced by Georgia Irish of Marine Bank, president of the OBA and head of the 2013 parade committee.

The Police and Parade Marshals are requesting full cooperation from spectators to stay back from the parade route for safety reasons due to the size of the floats.  Participants and spectators are reminded there is to be no parking on Cardinal Drive after 3:00PM for the safety of the children participating.

This year, to help relieve parking and congestion on Cardinal Drive and Ocean Drive there will be  free shuttle service provided by the Oceanside Business Association.   Two shuttles will run from Memorial Island in Riverside Park to Cardinal Drive until shortly after the parade starts.  The shuttles will begin picking up participants at the two following intersections: Indian Lilac Road and Silver Palm Drive as well as Cardinal Drive and Beachland Blvd. to bring spectators back to Riverside Park.

This year, the parade is expected to have over 70 entries. There will be boats, motor cycles, fire engines, wonderfully decorated floats and even a plane!  The floats are supplied by schools, clubs, non-profits and businesses.  Santa will arrive on his sleigh donated by Dubois and Sons Jewelry.  Karen Dodson, the parade coordinator has been responding to questions from participants since early June and we have participants coming from all over to participate!  We have had calls from attendees from Stuart, Miami and the Carolinas and of course many of our seasonal and permanent residents.  Karen has coordinated the parade for the last few years and says this will be the best ever! People are encouraged to come early and visit the businesses, hotels and restaurants whose support makes our parade possible.

Al Benkert of Vero Beachside Sales-Rentals will be this year’s judge in order to handle the difficult task of choosing the winning floats for the following categories: Most Holiday Spirit; Most Humorous; Best of Parade (Best overall)

The parade will stage on Cardinal Drive and will run from: Flamevine to Greytwig on Ocean Drive between 5:30 & 7PM. (See Map Below)

3PM – No Parking on Cardinal Dr because floats will stage there.

4PM – Cardinal Drive & cross streets will be closed to traffic from Beachland to Flamevine so floats can be staged SAFELY.

4PM – Flamevine will be closed from Eagle Dr to Ocean Dr.

5PM – Ocean Drive will be closed from Flamevine to Greytwig.

5PM – Greytwig & its cross streets will be closed east of A1A.

5:30PM – Parade begins on Ocean Drive at the corner of Flamevine.