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Children become overjoyed Friday night when they see horses in the Christmas parade that traversed up St. Johns Avenue in downtown Palatka. -
The Smith family smiles for a photo with Santa Claus on Friday night at Lemon Street Market & Mercantile after the Christmas parade. -
Festive blow-up decorations adorn a float that was in the Christmas parade that traveled up St. Johns Avenue in downtown Palatka on Friday. -
Alyson Valdes, 6, is excited to meet Santa Claus at Lemon Street Market & Mercantile after the Christmas parade. -
The Putnam County Sanitation Department lights up St. Johns Avenue in a decked out vehicle for the Christmas parade. -
Positively Putnam FL
Children dived for candy along St. Johns Avenue on Friday evening as floats topped with Christmas lights signaled a Palatka tradition and the start of the holiday season.
One day after Thanksgiving, the Palatka Christmas parade kept its holiday tradition, as it has since 1909. And this year, the children got a special treat when Santa Claus stopped by the Lemon Street Market & Mercantile, 715 St Johns Ave., for photos and to hear what was on each child’s Christmas list.
Later in the evening, the city was pelted with rain, but organizer Sam Deputy was glad to see the skies remain clear during the parade, which traveled up St. Johns Avenue from Second to 11th streets.
“It was a great parade,” Deputy said. “The good Lord watched out for us because the rain held out.”
He said about 80 groups participated in the parade this year and thousands of people showed up for the festivities.
The parade featured a little bit of competition, too, with prizes for the best floats.
The winners were:
– First Place: Palatka Horseman’s Club
– Second Place: Rat Island
– Third Place: James Ranch
– Judge’s Choice: Feed the Need
– Best in Show: Johnson’s Towing
Following the parade, Santa Claus, decked out in his jolly, red suit, greeted eager children. Some of the children were so excited to get inside Lemon Street Market that they kept tapping on the glass window.
Six-year-old Alyson Valdes, who just moved with her family from South Florida to Palatka, took off running toward Santa as soon as the doors opened. She was the first one to talk to Santa and give him a hug.
Sam Carr, who took on the role of Santa Claus on Friday, said this is his eighth or ninth year playing the Christmas icon. He naturally has a Santa beard, so he only needs to put on the red suit to match.
This was his first event of the season playing Santa, but Carr said he’s got at least nine more appearances in the county lined up.
“It was very scary to start out with, but it really has been a blessing,” Carr said. “It’s delightful.”