Santa Parade (2009)

The Westchase Charitable Foundation and its presenting sponsor the World of Westchase is pleased to announce that the 5th Annual Santa "Pre-Flight” parade will take place on Saturday, December 12 from 2 - 7:30 p.m. So prepare your village floats and plan your block parties now to welcome Santa to your neighborhood!

In conjunction with the parade the “Pre-Tree Lighting” festivities around the West Park Village Christmas tree are a sight to see. The festivities are expected to begin at approximately 5 p.m. and will consist of various live holiday music including the Alonso High School Jazz Band, Dawson Dance & Theatre Academy and many others are expected to join as well.

The parade consists of Hillsborough County Sheriff and Citizens Patrol Escorts lead by Deputy Jennie Matera, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, a vintage fire truck in place of Santa’s sleigh and many village floats and special guests including Westchase’s own Sunburst 2009 International Beauty Queen Champion Olivia Caputo.

The participants will wind up and down many of the streets of the Westchase development and is welcomed by numerous block parties and thousands of children of all ages.

Santa will conclude the parade by joining the pre-lighting party at West Park Village Center at 7:30 p.m. to light the community Christmas tree. He will be prepared to collect unwrapped toys along the way or at West Park Village for needy children of all ages to be distributed by "Sincerely Santa", Hillsborough County Sheriffs Department District III Toy Drive. Last year more than 325 toys were collected during the parade for this program. Donation of toys can also be dropped off at Coldwell Banker Real Estate in The Avenues at Westchase.

Santa regrets that he will not be able to go down narrow streets in many of the villages but is certain to make his stop at the West Park Village Center at approximately 7:30 p.m. to light the tree and all are invited.

The ESTIMATED times are as follows:

  • 2 – 3 p.m. Vineyards, Shires and Enclave
  • 3 – 4 p.m. Villages along Countryway
  • 4 – 6 p.m. Harbor Links, Radcliff, Greens
  • 6 – 7:30 p.m. Fords, Bridges, New Parke Circle and conclusion at West Park Village Center

The Foundation would like to thank our sponsors including the Presenting Sponsor World of Westchase for the second year in a row. Additional sponsors include Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate CARES Program, Dr. Sharon J. Durrett DMD Orthodontics, Catch Twenty-Three, Alonso High School and Dawson Dance and Theatre Academy. Additional sponsorships are still available and welcomed.

 For more information, contact the parade organizer, Dan O’Brien, at 892-4486. All of us from the Foundation look forward to seeing you on the 12th!