Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill to serve as Junior Orange Bowl Parade grand marshal
Zoo Miami “goodwill ambassador” Ron Magill has been named grand marshal of the 64th Junior Orange Bowl Parade, which sets out through downtown Coral Gables on Sunday, Dec. 30.
Involved with wildlife and the South Florida community for over 30 years, Mr. Magill is communications director for the zoo and has made frequent television appearances as a wildlife expert on programs such as National Geographic Explorer, the Discovery Network, Today Show, the Late Show with David Letterman, Sabado Gigante and many more.
“Ron Magill is the perfect fit to be grand marshal of the Junior Orange Bowl Parade,” said parade Chair Kathleen Slesnick Kauffman. “Magill has always been a great member of the South Florida community and his international experience represents the identity of the Junior Orange Bowl Festival and the children who participate.”
Mr. Magill’s work has taken him throughout Africa, India and Central and South America, where he developed and directed conservation projects and Emmy Award- winning wildlife documentaries.
No stranger to the parade, Mr. Magill will be joined by Prince, the 10-foot-long albino Burmese python that he carried in last year’s procession.
The 64th Junior Orange Bowl Parade Theme is “Sailing to New Adventures,” which commemorates the 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s arrival Florida.
The parade begins at 4 p.m. on Sunday Dec. 30 by heading south on Ponce De Leon Boulevard starting at Alhambra Circle. The parade will turn west on Miracle Mile and finish in front of the grandstand seating area on Biltmore Way, right in front of Coral Gables City Hall.
Attendance is free; a limited number of grandstand tickets can be purchased in advance for those preferring premium seats. For more information, call 305-662-1210 or visit www.jrorangebowl.org.
