LAKELAND, Fla. — Call it a holiday heads up: If you’re planning to check out the city of Lakeland‘s big Christmas Parade at 7 p.m. Thursday, there’s a detour you need to know about in this year's parade route.
Lise and Marty Schulze wouldn't miss the annual event.
“It's something to remind us that Christmas still happens even here in Florida,” Lise said. “I like the bands and the music. And you like the floats, right Marty? Yep. So, yeah, we like everything about it.”
Like thousands of others, the Schulze’s will be staking out a choice viewing spot along the route.
“Oh, I am sure we will find a spot,” Lise said. “You can't miss the Christmas parade.”
The city doesn’t want anyone to miss it either – and is reminding those who visit that there’s a detour in this year’s route.
“Specifically Orange Street, due to some undergrad utilities at the City of Lakeland is going to be improving upon,” Lakeland Spokesman Jamin Smith.
The city has posted a map of the new parade route on its website and social media pages.
Lakeland is also once again asking people not to place chairs or other placeholders out before parade day. Years ago, folks would stake their claim days – even weeks ahead of time.
“If it's blocking, the right of way or crosswalk, the city of Lakeland could confiscate it and move it out of the way for the rest of our citizens to be able to freely enjoy the sidewalk,” Smith said.
The parade route was actually changed twice this year.
The first detour would have brought it around Lake Morton, but hundreds signed an online petition fearing it might stress the city’s iconic swans who live in Lake Morton.
At first, city leaders resisted, but then realized by not circling the entire lake they could also spend about $20,000 less on the event. So, they nixed the idea. The new route borders Lake Morton’s northwest corner for a couple of blocks before heading back toward downtown.
“And we just felt at the end of the day that is the best route to go, especially with seeing how much money we saved,” Smith said.
This year‘s event starts with a fireworks display at 7 p.m. over Lake Mirror. The parade starts just after that.
If you aren’t able to make it out to Lakeland, you can still watch it live on the city's website and Facebook page.