GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – The Very GNV Holiday Parade this past Saturday did not disappoint.
Almost every tangible Gainesville-based group, person, and business appeared via float, car ride, or foot down University Avenue’s long stretch of road. The weather was pristine, with a cool breeze and not a cloud in the sky, as hundreds gathered around a parade for the ages.
Gainesville political figures such as Mayor Harvey Ward and City Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker appeared, as did many other guests, from grade school bands like Eastside and P.K. Young to University of Florida mascots Albert and Alberta. The holiday parade more than deserved its run time, with various groups and floats continuing to cascade to the Alachua County Public Schools Administration Building past the hour mark.
Not to mention the main man himself–the incomparable Shaquille O’Neal, in the flesh, presented himself as the Grand Marshal of the parade while sitting atop a boat float.
Others who appeared included Gainesville’s Regional Transit System buses, showcasing a bus covered with holiday-themed stickers.
There were also various representatives from local/state law enforcement.
An Alachua County Public Schools float carried its various board members, who stopped by for a holiday salute. This was shortly followed by an Alachua County Public Schools bus.
Many local businesses, including GRU and Snyder A/C, also attended the festive celebration.
This is not to mention the plethora of clubs and programs, such as Peak Literacy, Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid-Florida, and the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Florida, which all participated in the parade.
