Lighting of Lakeland Festivities Enjoyed By All

By: Marsha Tallent

LAKELAND, Georgia – The annual Lighting of Lakeland and Christmas Parade kicked off last Thursday evening with lots of fun and festive floats, and thematic living windows in downtown Lakeland.

Several different organizations and businesses were involved in the parade this year, and had floats and cars all the way down the parade route which included Main Street.

The parade began at the Lanier County Elementary School on South Valdosta Road and continued north to Murrell, east to S. Oak St., north to Main Street and a return to the Lanier Schools via Pecan St. south.

The parade’s grand marshals were the Lanier County football and softball coaches.

The parade also featured school competition winners, the award winning Lanier County High School Band, Flag Corp, Drumline and dance groups and, of course, Santa Claus!

Santa had a special seat toward the end of the parade.

In the spirit of Christmas, the City of Lakeland showed off its new garbage truck although its so new that it did not have the city logo on it.

The Lighting of Lakeland’s Living Windows also had winners announced. In 1st place Good Hope Baptist Church. In 2nd Place, Milltown Market won. Third place went to a window by Farmers and Merchants Bank.

The Christmas parade float winners were Knight’s Memorial Church (1st), Southside Baptist Youth (2nd), and Lanier County Fire Rescue Department (3rd).