City of Gainesville thanks sponsors of A Very GNV Holiday Parade
Press release from City of Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – For the first time since 1990, the City of Gainesville is ushering in the holidays with a parade. The seasonal celebration complete with marching bands, motorcycle riders, shiny convertibles, dancing groups, and more has already attracted more than 40 official entries.
A Very GNV Holiday Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 2. Steve Spurrier, former head coach of the Florida Gators football team and 1966 Heisman Trophy winner, will appear as the grand marshal. The parade will start at noon, moving from W. University Avenue and 6th Street and traveling approximately one mile, to end at the Alachua County Public Schools Administration Building at 620 E. University Avenue.
The Gainesville City Commission is quick to note this event is made possible through the support of sponsors across the community. Donors have pledged more than $50,000 to cover the costs of the parade as the City tightens its belt in the wake of significant budget reductions in all departments but Public Safety.
“As we look back over the year, we have had a tough time,” said parade organizer and At-large City Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut while announcing sponsors at the special meeting of the Gainesville City Commission October 26. “A smile on a child’s face, or a neighbor’s, when I say we are going to have a holiday parade, makes it all worthwhile. We – the commission, staff, and community partners – are a team, and working together we can do almost anything.”
Thank you to the sponsors of A Very GNV Holiday Parade.
City of Gainesville Holiday Parade Sponsors
Platinum ($10,000+)
Cox Communications
Gold ($5,000
The Collier Companies
GFL Environmental, Gainesville, FL Branch
Morgan & Morgan
UF Health
Silver ($2,500)
Gas South
RADDSports
Weyerhaeuser Company
Sapphire ($1,500)
Audi Gainesville
CAMPUS USA Credit Union
Celebration Pointe
Chestnut Funeral Home
Children’s Trust of Alachua County
CPPI
Duke Energy
EDA Consultants, Inc.
Eden Park at Ironwood
Fletcher Family Companies
Gainesville Housing Authority
Gainesville Regional Airport
McDonald’s
Oelrich Construction, Inc.
San Felasco Tech City
Scorpio Corporation
Trimark Properties
Registration for participation in the parade remains open until Monday, Nov. 13. The registration form, parade rules, and additional details can be found online or picked up at City Hall (200 E. University Ave.) or the Historic Thomas Center (302 NE 6th St.). For more information, visit the 2023 holiday parade webpage.
Forget having a fire truck with Santa. A rusted out 1975 Ford pickup filled with homeless people rolling down University Avenue and everyone will immediately know “this is a very GNV parade.”
Why can’t it be called a Christmas Parade?
Oh don’t you DARE mention Jesus in this pagan town!
Does anyone notice how the city claims it has “as the City tightens its belt in the wake of significant budget reductions in all departments but Public Safety.” Actually, it has INCREASED taxes 27% and has a larger budget than last year, but you will hear cry baby Harvey Ward whine about how unfair it is.
What a waste of time and money by the city. No one asked for it other than the Commission. A silly idea to waste resources on a parade that ties up resources and traffic. Am sure hourly city employees will like the overtime they accrue though. Am sure there are a lot of nonprofits that would put the money used for this to better use.
Hush, baby Saco, everything will be alright. Maybe daddy will send you a Trumpy Bear for Christmas.
This is great !! And I suppose that on Veterans Day, we will have a parade for “SOME PEOPLE WHO DID SOMETHING OVER THERE” !!
Lone Sailor: You are on to something. Next, July 4 celebrations will be replaced by “Collect money to give to Great Britain as reparations for the colonies we stole from them Day.”
Cripes, what a sordid collection of Gainesville hating, Scrooge inspired comments. Maybe you should move somewhere else where you’d be happier.