The 52nd annual Cutler Bay Independence Day Celebration and Golf Cart Parade at Whispering Pines Park took place on the morning of July 4, as golf carts brightly decorated in red, whiote and blue wound through the neighborhoods around Whispering Pines Lake.
Aided by good weather, more than 300 golf carts participated as 700 residents and neighbors of all ages decked out their golf carts and themselves in patriotic colors and decorations for the occasion.
Town Mayor Tim Meerbott; Councilmembers BJ Duncan, Michael Callahan, Roger Coriat, and State Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez led the parade, which was escorted by town policing unit officers and firefighters from Miami-Dade County Fire Station 34.
The parade ended at Whispering Pines Park, where the celebration continued. Attendees were able to enjoy all the free features and activities the event had to offer — food, music by DJ Ivan, bounce houses, face painting, bracelet engraving, carnival games, frisbee art and a weaving workshop (courtesy of the town and a grant from Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs).
“It’s always fun to see the creativity our residents put, year after year, into decorating their golf carts,” Mayor Meerbott said. “This golf cart parade has become a staple of our town and highlights the family-friendly and caring community that makes Cutler Bay so special.”
During the event, elected officials in attendance took the stage to greet the crowd and introduce Samantha Zaitman, who sang the National Anthem. There also were live performances from Cutler Bay’s National Karate Academy and Hipnotic Dance Studio. The event was topped-off by the 482nd Fighter Wing, who ended the event with an impressive flyover with four F-16 aircraft.
The event was made possible by the support of the following sponsors: Barnard Law Offices, Cricket Wireless, Southland Mall, Cutler Bay Solar Solutions and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs.
The town also sponsored the Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Extravaganza, which was an evening celebration organized by and held in the Village of Palmetto Bay. This was the first year the town sponsored the event, which provided residents another opportunity to celebrate the country’s Independence Day.
