LOIS KINDLE FILE PHOTO
Spruce up your golf cart with holiday decor, win some cash
By LOIS KINDLE
The Sun City Center Community Association will host the Happy Holidays Golf Cart Parade at 10 a.m. Dec. 8, and you’re invited to take part.
There’s more than $1,000 cash and prizes up for grabs, and you could very well be a winner.
“I’m a firm believer that people do this more for the pleasure of participating and having a good time than they do for the money,” said Dave Birkett, parade committee chairman.
Still, winning a prize is nice.
There will be 13 awards in three categories — Individual, Group and Business.
Starting at 9 a.m., all entries will be judged in the Community Association parking lot before heading north on Pebble Beach to La Jolla Avenue, and then proceeding over El Rancho Boulevard, Ojai Avenue and finally Cherry Hills Boulevard to end at the bandstand area, where winners will be announced. Light refreshments will be served after the parade ends.
This year’s judges are Jo Boggs, owner of Bogg’s Jewelry; Sasha Hoffman, general manager of the Wawa store in Wimauma; and Vern Hendricks, of Sun Radio 96.3 FM.
Carts that are finalists will receive large blue ribbons so that bystanders can identify them as they pass by. The entourage will include dignitaries and grand marshal Santa and Mrs. Claus (aka Bob and Pat Sullivan).
Everyone who starts the route gets a raffle ticket. Two people will win $50, there will win pair a pair of show tickets and one a Sun City Area Chamber of Commerce gift basket.
There’s no particular theme this year, but cart décor must be holiday related. Otherwise, you can let your imagination run wild.
“There are more prizes for more winners this year,” Birkett said. “It’s such a fun event for everyone who enters. There’s so much camaraderie, holiday spirit and the thrill of the crowd.
“Once people get involved and actually participate, they usually get back. Our challenge is to get people who’ve never participated to get involved.”
Registration forms are available at the Community Association office at 1009 N. Pebble Beach Blvd., or online at www.suncitycenter.org. Ideally, they should be returned to the CA between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. by Dec. 4 but will be taken on the morning of the parade, if necessary.
The family-friendly Happy Holidays Golf Cart Parade will take place rain or shine. It’s open to businesses and residents of Sun City Center, Kings Point and Freedom Plaza and free for both entrants and bystanders.
For more information, email davesccsic@gmail.com.