By Tiffany Merlo Phelps
mail@floridanewsline.com
If you are looking for an easier way to watch the 2024 Palm Valley Boat Parade, park at Landrum Middle School, hop on a free shuttle and take a seat on the bleachers under the east side of the Palm Valley Bridge. It is a new option being offered by the Palm Valley Community Association (PVCA) in collaboration with the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department to provide a new viewing area for the community. It is expected that 120 people will be able to sit on the bleachers and enjoy the parade, which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. Many more will be able to enjoy the surrounding bleacher area, watch the local tradition and kick off the Christmas season.
“We wanted to make the parade more accessible to people and to give more opportunities for families to see it,” said St. Johns County Commissioner Krista Keating-Joseph, who took the PVCA’s request before the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners where it was approved unanimously.
In addition to very limited parking under the east side of the bridge, St. Johns County will offer a remote parking location at Landrum Middle School’s back parking lot where folks can be picked up by a free shuttle service. The Parks and Recreation Department will provide two shuttles in continuous rotation from 4:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., according to St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Director Ryan Kane. Signs will be up at both locations to alert the public, and safety officers will be in place to help direct traffic.
Palm Valley Community Association President Greg Leonard said this is an important and cautious first step to opening the parade up to the surrounding and growing community. Leonard said it is a great opportunity for those not wanting to make a restaurant reservation or those who do not live on the waterway. The plan is to add more to this initiative in the coming years, he said.
This year in addition to the bleachers, Kane said there will also be portable restrooms, trash barrels, light towers, Christmas music and a food truck, all courtesy of Parks and Recreation. The Board of County Commissioners approved $5,000 of additional funds to the Parks and Recreation Department’s operating budget to cover these costs.
“St. Johns County Parks and Recreation is excited for the ‘Launch Party’ and encourages families to come out and see the amazing flotilla of lights to help kick off your holiday season,” said Kane.
Capt. Bob Brindle, who has been driving boat No. 77 in the lighted boat parade for the past 24 years as the lead boat, said interaction with the docks is what makes the parade so special. He is looking forward to the parade and the new viewing area.
“For me, it is a family event. We have our children, grandkids, and great grandchildren with us,” he said.
The parade will begin at Marker 3 just south of the Palm Valley Bridge. From there, the procession will continue north and is anticipated to reach Marsh Landing around 8:05 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Live updates on pacing and expected arrival times at various landmarks will be given out as well. Water safety assistance is also provided during the event by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, St. Johns County Fire Rescue and Florida Fish and Wildlife.
Parade coordinator Beacham Still said in addition to the bleachers, the best places to view the parade are the restaurants along the seven-mile boat route of Palm Valley’s Intracoastal Waterway as well as Mickler’s Wharf.
Still said the parade’s real mission is to support the community by creating scholarships for local high school students at Ponte Vedra and Nease. He added that the parade is funded by generous participants, businesses, and neighbors, and it also benefits the Palm Valley Charities via the Palm Valley Community Association board.
For more information, visit palmvalleyboatparade.com or look for parade updates on their Facebook group page www.facebook.com/groups/Palmvalleyboatparade. Cash prizes will be given to boat winners in different size categories and to the best decorated docks.
CUTLINE
Photos courtesy Beacham Still
