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Ocala Christmas Parade gets go-ahead from City Council

Sue Mosley with the Friends of the Christmas Parade addressed the Ocala City Council Tuesday night. Photo: Joe Byrnes
Sue Mosley with the Friends of the Christmas Parade addressed the Ocala City Council Tuesday night. Photo: Joe Byrnes

Ocala could still have its annual Christmas Parade on December 12th. The City Council approved the permit last night.

But organizers will re-evaluate whether a much smaller parade is still worth it.

Normally, up to 70,000 spectators crowd along State Road 40 in Ocala to watch the nighttime spectacle.

This year far fewer are expected, and Marion County schools and their bands won't participate.

Given the expense, organizer Sue Mosley says the Friends of the Christmas Parade will rethink their plans.

"Twenty units and 30 government entities -- you’re still talking 50. We normally do 120," she said. "So I just don’t know. I mean, like I said, it would be irresponsible of my committee to move forward with that small of a group."

Spectators would be asked to wear masks and keep their distance.

The county’s coronavirus positivity rate rose to 7-point-4 percent last week. On Monday it exceeded 12 percent.

A health department official told the council there’s concerning evidence of community spread.

Area cities still planning to have Christmas parades include Lady Lake, Leesburg, Mount Dora, Belleview, Dunnellon and Tavares.

Dunnellon has canceled the post-parade celebration and tree lighting. Tavares has doubled the length of its parade to allow for social distancing.

Joe Byrnes came to WMFE/WMFV from the Ocala Star-Banner and The Gainesville Sun, where he worked as a reporter and editor for several years. Joe graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans and turned to journalism after teaching. He enjoys freshwater fishing and family gatherings.