The city of Gainesville will kick off the winter holiday season on Dec. 6 with its 3rd annual “A Very GNV Holiday Parade.”
This year’s parade, which runs from noon to 1 p.m., will celebrate Gainesville’s “homegrown talent” highlighting the city’s vibrant arts, culture and dance scene. It will feature over 100 themed floats, dance troupes, local marching bands and community groups.
City Commissioner Cynthia Moore Chestnut led the effort to establish the parade in 2023 after discovering Gainesville hadn’t hosted one in 30 years.
“The response was overwhelming … people were very excited about it,” she said. “I get comments all the time, really, starting in the summer, people asking, ‘When can we sign up?’ ‘When’s the parade?’ ‘How can I be in the parade?’”
Gainesville natives Marion J. Caffey, theatrical producer and director best known for his work on Broadway and television, and award-winning saxophonist Emmanuel Garilus will lead the parade as co-grand marshals.
“I’m deeply honored to return to Gainesville as a grand marshal,” Caffey said in a press release. “The arts gave me direction and purpose as a young person. My first show as an actor was at Gainesville Community Playhouse. Seeing how this city now invests in its youth through creativity and education is just fantastic and being part of that is a goal of mine.”
Garilus earned the opportunity to perform at New York City’s Apollo Theater after winning Gainesville’s Apollo Theater Youth Talent Search. Caffey served as artistic director of the search which was organized by the city’s One Nation One Project Gainesville, the local arm of a national initiative promoting community health and well-being through culture and the arts. He was the first saxophonist to take home the Apollo’s Amateur Night grand prize in 2025.
“To appear as a grand marshal with the people who lifted me up is a reminder that every note, every act of kindness, every piece of art can change a life,” Garilus said in a press release. “This moment isn’t just about gratitude — it’s about purpose. I’m honored to celebrate what’s possible when faith, discipline and community come together through the arts.”
Past grand marshals include basketball star Shaquille O’Neal and former UF football coach Steve Spurrier.
The Manhood Youth Development Foundation, a program that provides a support system to young Black men, Dazzling Black Hat Divas sorority and Latino Women’s League are just some of the groups that will take part in this year’s parade. Adding to the fun, the Humane Society of North Central Florida and Hearts of Gold Therapy Dogs will bring their furry friends and are sure to delight young parade-goers.
The parade will also feature a special appearance by the Star Center Theatre, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Kathleen Kauffman, the city’s historic preservation officer and director of this year’s parade, organized the Junior Orange Bowl parade in Miami for years before moving to Gainesville and is excited to be involved in showcasing what the city’s community has to offer.
“UF does a great homecoming parade, but that really is geared to the UF clubs and organizations,” she said. This parade is really meant to feature local community organizations that may not always have a chance to march in a parade … everybody loves it.”
The parade will start at the intersection of West University Avenue and West Sixth Street and end near the Alachua County Public Schools Administration Building at 620 E. University Ave.
Families are encouraged to stick around after the parade and join DJ E-LO at Bo Diddley Plaza for a free holiday kids’ dance party from 1 to 3 p.m. and the city’s annual holiday lights celebration at the Historic Thomas Center from 5 to 8 p.m.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.gainesville.com ’
