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The Junior Orange Bowl events are in high gear with the start of its internationally acclaimed Tennis Tournament and the Junior Orange Bowl Parade that featured UM and NFL great Jon Beason as grand marshal.
Tennis chair Samantha Jones, who also is a Jr. OB past president, even managed to wrap up the first day of qualifying matches to make the parade to join Jr. OB president Grant Souviron and numerous sponsors and past presidents for a picture-perfect day.
The Florida Memorial University (Marching and Dancing) Band kicked off the parade — a great start for the crowds in the stands and along Miracle Mile enjoying the floats, bands and equestrian units. There even was a helicopter fly over provided by the Coast Guard to add to the fun-filled night.
In addition to the Jr. OB Parade and Tennis Tournament, next on the schedule this week is the Jr. Orange Bowl Basketball Tournament for boys and girls at Westminster Christian from Dec. 28 to 30. This event, chaired by Jr. OB past president Chuck Little, features teams from Georgia and Ohio, as well as several local teams. Play at Westminster starts daily at 9 a.m. Admission is $10 for the day for adults and $5 for kids.
Adding to the tournament experience for the out-of-state teams is the opportunity to go to the WOW Center to do a basketball clinic with individuals with developmental disabilities. Visiting coaches tell Chuck that this always is the most memorable part of the trip for their players. In fact, you can check out a video of one visit on my Gloria’s Gab LIVE Show that featured an interview with Chuck Little on Dec. 13.
One of this writer’s other favorite holiday events is the King Mango Strut parade in Coconut Grove that finally is returning. This crazy parade is just weeks away and always is a fan favorite that satirizes highlights of the past year with creative, funny, wild costumes; choreographed routines; music, and so much more.
The deal is, if it isn’t funny don’t bother to apply. Participants spend countless hours dreaming up ways to entertain and it never fails to produce hilarity of the first order.
Starting at 2 p.m. for about an hour and a half, the parade is followed by activities continuing into the evening in restaurants, bars, and cafés on Commodore Plaza, Main Highway, and Grand Avenue.
Because of COVID, the King Mango Strut went dark in both 2020 and 2021. Now it’s coming back in full force. The parade always is on a Sunday and, with Christmas and New Year’s falling on that day this year, the parade will take place on Jan. 8, 2023.
In other holiday news, a large group of woman’s club members from FFWC District 11 clubs traveled to visit a sister club in Key West on Dec. 4-5. The ladies enjoyed the Key West Woman’s Club’s annual holiday bazaar and a tour of their amazing clubhouse located right on Duval Street.
In other club action, The Villagers held the annual Historic Homes Tour on Dec. 10, during which 500 supporters visited five amazing homes built in the 1920s. This was as much an art walk as it was a home tour. Kudos to The Villagers on another amazing Tour that was a sold out.
A dozen members of the CGWC helped little ones write and decorate letters to Santa at the annual Holiday Showcase at Merrick House on Sunday, Dec. 11, before the Jr. Orange Bowl Parade. Among those attending with this writer were Carol Horkowitz, Ruth Martinez, Theresa Gilmore, Ana Lam, Lucita Moran, Carmen Diaz-Padron, Damaris Davila, Donna Myrill, Margarette Beauchamp, Kristina Jackson and Elizabeth Hicks.
Carmen Cason, former Coral Gables first lady, did a ribbon cutting as Mayor Vince Lago, Commissioner Rhonda Anderson, and former Mayors Jim Cason and Don Slesnick looked on. All enjoyed tours of the beautifully restored home decorated for Christmas by the Coral Gables Garden Club and music with St. Andrew’s Handbell Choir and holiday caroling. Lots of vendors were on hand for holiday shopping and Santa finally arrived in great style on the Coral Gables fire engine with lights blazing to the delight of all the children and adults.
Until next time, keep making each day count, share an act of kindness and enjoy a happy holiday season.
