Apopka Christmas Parade promises joyful sounds and a Merry Christmas

41st Annual event expected to draw 25,000

With blue skies, and temperatures expected to be in the 50's, The Foliage Sertoma Club will unveil its 41st Annual Apopka Christmas Parade this morning at 10AM.

An expected crowd of 25,000 (which was the estimated attendance last year) will watch as 90-100 floats, vehicles, musicians, bands and displays will take the traditional route along Park Avenue from Third Street to Votaw Road. The common theme that all entries will use is “A Very Merry Christmas with Joyful Sounds".

Four high school bands will perform at the event - Apopka, Jones, Ocoee, and Wekiva.

The parade originated in 1967 with the Apopka Chamber of Commerce in charge. In 1974, the Foliage Sertoma Club took over the event and has managed it ever since. It has become one of the largest parades in Orange County.

But size was never the goal according to Joyce Brocker.

"We see this as a chance to give back to Apopka," said Brocker, a former Foliage Sertoma President. “It’s for the enjoyment of our community.”

Longtime Parade Chairman Steve Deviese is this year's Grand Marshall. For the second straight year Pamela Joy Smith, Dorian Goodman, and John Davie will be the judges.