Famous Clydesdales in Lehigh parade Saturday

The Clydesdales
Some have come to call it the Candy Parade, but sponsors of the Lehigh Acres Festival are calling it their 35th annual Grand Parade and it’s scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. sharp on Saturday, March 28 near the intersection of Beth Stacey Blvd. and Homestead Rd.
The staging area is in the vicinity of Business Way and the 90 entries are expected to be at the staging area at around 9:30 p.m., said Andy Reisinger, the parade chairman now for his sixth year.
“We always caution people not to throw candy from their parade units. The candy can strike someone or break someone’s glasses,” Reisinger said.
But his advice goes unheeded each year as tons of candy is thrown out to the thousands of children along the Homestead Rd. route to Arthur Ave., close to Veterans Park where the Festival’s day of activities ends this year’s event.
The Spring Festival and Parade began in the mid 1970s as a way for Lehigh residents to say good-bye to their friends and neighbors who were snowbirds and usually left just before Easter.
Nothing’s changed. Easter is but a few weeks away and as usual, Reisinger said it’s a gift from the businesses of Lehigh to both local residents and snowbirds who are preparing to leave and go back north.
One of the main attractions this year will be the well-known Clydesdale horses, made famous in the Budweiser TV commercials. There are several sets of Clydesdales and they are always a big attraction in a parade. The Clydesdale horses, known for their height and size, were here a few years back and their popularity is what prompted parade officials to bring them back.
The parade will start off with Lee County Sheriff’s cars leading the trek to the park. As of midweek, there was no parade marshal and Reisinger said he didn’t think there was a “pioneer family,” which is usually selected by the Chamber of Commerce.
Hundreds of children representing all the sports teams in Lehigh will be walking in the parade in their uniforms along with their coaches and supporters.
It’s the largest parade involving youngsters in South Florida and thousands are expected to line the route. Many people come early in the morning and set up their lawn chairs and park their cars in the many shopping centers along the route.
Two emcees are expected to announce the entries as they pass by the intersection of Alabama Rd. and Leeland Heights Blvd.
Lehigh Senior High School will have the Lightening Band marching as will be their Jr. ROTC unit. This year, the East Lee County High School Jr. ROTC cadettes are also expected to march in the parade.
Reisinger said there are many volunteers along the route that try to keep the parade moving along so there are no gaps, but like most parades, somebody gets slowed down and a gap or two happens.
Some years, floats from the Edison Festival of Lights parade come to Lehigh for its parade.
Judges will give trophies to the best float that carries the theme, Down Through The Ages. It will also present trophies to the most original and other categories.
Each year, one of the favorites is the return of the Araba Temple from Fort Myers. They dress in costume with several clowns and drive crazy little motorized vehicles and ride high bikes and perform in the street.
All the pageant queens and the little prince of the festival will ride on the Spring Festival Float. Several churches will have entries in this year’s parade and the first church ever in Lehigh, the First Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ, plans for the first time to enter a float in the parade.
Resigner advised onlookers to keep a watch out over their children.
“We don’t want any accidents or anyone to get hurt. When candy is thrown out, be sure you kids don’t run for it and get hit by a parade vehicle.
“We are asking those in the parade to be mindful when they throw out candy that they don’t toss it up in the air as it can injure someone.
“Each year, the children run out onto Homestead Rd. to pick up candy. Many kids bring bags as if it is Halloween to gather candy, so we want everyone to be careful and to enjoy the parade which is expected to last a little more than an hour and a half perhaps.
And if it doesn’t rain on Saturday, it will continue to set another record: it has never rained on Festival Parade Day in Lehigh.
“And we don’t want to break the spell,” Reisinger laughed.
Following the parade, all types of events are planned for Veterans Park where thousands will descend upon.
“There’s plenty to do on Saturday,” Reisinger said. “Bring the entire family and enjoy yourselves. Our festival is for the family and we want it to be a fun experience for everyone.”