![]() and also had his specialized Cobra golf cart on display in front of the Waterfront Inn in Lake Sumter Landing during an event for the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association of Florida.Ī short time later, another customized golf cart – this one converted to look like an old-school race car paying tribute to the late Dale Earnhardt – rolled by. ![]() ![]() “I had to miss last year’s Christmas Parade so this has been really great,” said Shawn, who in September took part in a Villages Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C. Bill Shawn and his AH-1G Cobra Gunship golf cart Villager Art Fehrman’s customized old-school race car golf cart Village of Pine Ridge resident and retired Army Lt. Patrick’s Day Parade in March in Spanish Springs Town Square. Saturday’s parade marked the second event Shawn has participated in with the specialized cart, following an appearance in the St. Shawn, of the Village of Pine Ridge, served his country for more than 36 years and recently completed a more than year-long project to turn his golf cart into a replica of an AH-1G Cobra Gunship. “Look at how festive everybody is.”Īnother parade participant who was thoroughly enjoying the moment was Bill Shawn, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who flew a variety of helicopters during two tours of duty in Vietnam. “Looking at everybody that’s come out to celebrate,” she said. Stewart agreed, adding that one thing stands out as her favorite among all others. “The Parrot Heads definitely are a good party group,” added fellow Village of Belle Aire resident Bob McCourt, a Parrot Head member who also was known as the “Pied Piper of the Jersey Shore” for 67 years while playing bagpipes at parades and events. Several Villages Segway Club members took part in Saturday’s Christmas parade. Popular pink flamingos turned a few heads during Saturday’s Christmas Parade. ![]() “If you can’t have fun with the Parrot Heads, there’s something wrong with you,” said member Mary Jane Stewart, of the Village of Belle Aire, with a huge smile. Decked out in a variety of wacky and colorful outfits, having a great time clearly was the goal of this fun-loving group that’s known for its highly successful charitable efforts that go on throughout the year. Perhaps no one was having more fun at the parade than the large contingent from The Villages Parrots Head Club. Villages Parrot Head members Bob McCourt and Mary Jane Stewart, both of the Village of Village of Belle Aire Scrappy the Clown, also known as 26-year Army veteran Marjean Goulet, of the Village of Virginia Trace Goldberg, who marched in last year’s parade while showing off her “Happy Hanukkah” sweater, said her only suggestion to make the event even better would be to include more marching bands than just those from The Villages High School and Wildwood Middle High School to fill in the gaps with music. “I like just how everybody is happy and having a good time.” “I think it’s great,” said Village of Alhambra resident Mardee Goldberg, a big table tennis player and loyal member of both Red Sox Nation and the New England Patriots Club of The Villages. In year’s past it’s gone the other way, but those in attendance didn’t seem to mind as long as they had an opportunity to enjoy the many entries and share quality time with friends and neighbors. The route was different this year, with the parade moving around the front polo field in a clockwise direction. Village of Alhambra resident Mardee Goldberg Sumter County sheriff’s deputies kicked off the annual Villages Christmas Parade at noon on Saturday at The Villages Polo Fields. The event started right at noon with Sumter County sheriff’s deputies leading the way as loud cheers erupted from the near-capacity crowd lining the path around the polo fields in chairs and golf carts. Welcome to the annual Villages Christmas Parade, where displaying the holiday spirit, having a great time and constantly sharing messages of “Merry Christmas” was the name of the game. Heck, there were even golf carts that resembled an Army attack helicopter and an old-time race car honoring a legend. There also were twirlers, cheerleaders, dog lovers, residents dressed as pink flamingos, model train lovers, a variety of veterans and plenty of first responders. Santa Claus closed out Saturday’s Villages Christmas Parade at The Villages Polo Fields while riding aboard The Villages Public Safety Department’s restored American LaFrance engine named ‘The Old Girl.’ Members of the Cavalier King Spaniels Dog Club had a big showing in Saturday’s Villages Christmas Parade. There was a little something for everybody Saturday at The Villages Polo Fields – lots of colorfully decorated golf carts, a slew of talented resident performance groups, a bunch of fun-loving clowns and two high school bands.
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