On Saturday 14th, 2024 the annual Marco Island Christmas parade took place. Floats crowded the streets as they prepared to march down San Marco at 6:30 pm. Every year the Marco Island Parade is taken as one of the island’s biggest events. The parade is an event that everyone can participate in, whether by being in the parade and walking or by sitting with family and friends while enjoying the cool Florida weather and watching the many floats, bands, and performances.
People held cookouts along the streets, as children sat patiently on the side waiting for the bright lights of each float and the candy that was also hung out. One of the floats included the Marco Island Academy float. Every year MIA creates and decorates a float for the annual parade.
This year the Mariah Carey music video was this year’s float theme. The cheerleaders walked before the float performing their winter cheer and dance. The girls’ soccer and boys’ basketball teams walked behind and handed out candy throughout the parade. MIA’s beloved Interact Club stood on the float as they waved to families, friends, and smiling children enamored by the sparkling float.
Near the end of the parade, judges evaluate the float and the aspects that make the float unique. This year the truck pulling the float was filled up with wrapped toys from Interact’s toy drive that was being held throughout the past couple of weeks at the school. The toys were given to children in Immokalee who may not receive any presents for the holidays. The cheerleaders performed for the judges that sat on bleachers as everyone else helped carry the trunk full of presents to a sleigh that was next to the bleachers. MIA had so many presents that another car was then needed to put the presents in.
Once the MIA float walked down the entire road they then concluded in the Publix parking lot. This year’s parade was one for the books as the number of people that participated was one of the highest that MIA has ever had. Next year MIA hopes to have the same success and is already looking forward to the island’s favorite event!
