Junior Orange Bowl Parade delights residents, visitors

December 31st, 2012

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Members of the Zoo Squad wave to the crowd. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Village of Pinecrest float won best earth-friendly design. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Military veterans march the parade route. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Color guard from the U.S. Southern Command. Photo by Betty Alvarez

University of Southernmost Florida float. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Thumbs up for newly engaged couple Rodolfo Roman and Catherine Llorens. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Thomson family, Anne Leidel and Kay Fahringer honor the flag. Photo by Betty Alvarez

The Junior Orange Bowl Royal Court. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Prymus Angels All Star Cheerleaders perform. Photo by Betty Alvarez

The Kerdyk family and Gene Prescott. Photo by Betty Alvarez

The Bee Academy unit passes by the grandstands. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Representatives of the 82nd Airborne. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Super Wheels Skating Centers. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Stephania Lopez, Don Slesnick and Gia Perez. Photo by Betty Alvarez

South Florida Trail Riders. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Shake-A-Leg float. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Servants for Christ. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Ron and Rita Magill with Don Slesnick. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Rodolfo Roman proposes to Catherine Llorens as Bay High Marching Band members watch. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Catherine Llorens accepts the ring from Rodolfo Roman. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Robert Bueso, Dallas Brown, Jose Javier Rodriguez and Don Slesnick. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Princess Maya Elias, Mayor Jim Cason, Queen Aria Armstead, Ron Magill and Princess Sophia Pereira. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Pat and Susie Salerno, Maria and Enrique Lopez. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Orange Bowl Committee members Don Slesnick, Jim Barker and Gene Prescott. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Matthew Daniel Gordon sings the national anthem. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Marti Bueso and Enid Miguez. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Rodolfo Roman places the ring on Catherine Llorens' finger. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Robert Bueso aboard a scooter. Photo by Betty Alvarez

The Northern Illinois Huskie Marching Band. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Miss Cuban American rides by the grandstands. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Military Museum of South Florida WWII Jeep. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Miami Gardens Vikings Cheerleaders. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Miami Elks Lodge float. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Mays Concervatory Marching Band. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Mahi Shriners perform. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Mahi Shriner with guest in tow. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Parade Chair Kathleen Slesnick Kauffman monitors the activities. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Jobie and the Royal Court aboard the Junior Orange Bowl float. Photo by Betty Alvarez

John and Pam Admire with Dallas Brown. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Queen Aria Armstead and Princess Sophia Pereira. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Past presidents of the Junior Orange Bowl. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Homestead Rodeo Association float. Photo by Betty Alvarez

HipHop Kidz perform for the grandstand audience. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Members of the HipHop Kidz perform. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Parade Grand Marshal Ron Magill of Zoo Miami with his python friend. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Gold Coast Arabian Horse Club. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Florida Pathfinders march by. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Enrique Lopez, Jeannett Slesnick, Ernesto Perez, Don Slesnick, Ginger Jochem, Stephania Lopez and Gia Perez. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Enrique Lopez with his wife Maria and daughter Stephania. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Enid Miguez with the Royal Court. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Dorothy and Jan Thomson, Quinn Mills and Jack Thomson. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Junior Orange Bowl Committee President Don Slesnick III with wife Ceci and daughter Cecilia. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Debbie Korge and Barbara Norland, JOB executive director. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Dallas Brown and Don Slesnick. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Crave Chef David Messinger is ready to serve reception guests. Photo by Betty Alvarez

The Coral Gables Senior High Cavaliers. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Coral Gables Police Explorers. Photo by Betty Alvarez

The Coral Gables Museum entry with holiday campers. Photo by Betty Alvarez

City of North Miami float won the community pride award. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Community Expressive Art Youth Group. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Antique Coca-Cola delivery truck rumbles down the parade route. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Club Hipico Nicaraguense de la Florida. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Marchers from the Club Hipico Nicaraguense de la Florida. Photo by Betty Alvarez

City of North Miami marchers. Photo by Betty Alvarez

City of Coral Gables float. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Modern fire engine from the Coral Gables Fire Department. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Coral Gables vintage fire truck. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Cindy and Jeff Birdsill. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Chris Rupp and Amayah Carlson. Photo by Betty Alvarez

The Boy Scouts march past the grandstands. Photo by Betty Alvarez

A team from BikeWalk Coral Gables. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Betty Alvarez and Enid Miguez. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Miami Children's Hospital float won for best use of parade theme. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Bentley the Bear makes a festive return to the parade. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Bay High Marching Band from Panama City, Fla. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barry University's float. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barbara Norland, JOB executive director, and Marly Q. Photo by Betty Alvarez

AT&T float. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Amayah Carlson and Princess Sophia Pereira.

Alexander Montessori Rock Band float.

Families lined the streets of downtown Coral Gables on Sunday, Dec. 30, as floats, marching bands and performers marched by in the 64^th annual Junior Orange Bowl Parade.

Led by Grand Marshal Ron Magill and a 10-foot python from ZooMiami, the parade featured local, state and national marching bands, including the Northern Illinois University Huskie Marching Band, which came to town for the Orange Bowl football classic.

This year’s parade theme was “Sailing to New Adventures,” commemorating the 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s arrival Florida.

The crowds enjoyed show horses, youth groups, an array of performers and a steady procession of colorful floats that rolled down historic Miracle Mile en route to a grandstand audience outside Coral Gables City Hall.

Grandstand guests were also treated to a pre-parade show, which featured performances by the dance group HipHop Kidz and the impressive Bay High School marching band from Panama City.

The Bay High band also formed the backdrop for a successful marriage proposal as Rodolfo Roman placed the engagement ring on Catherine Lloren’s finger — true to the “new adventures” parade theme.

Photos by Betty Alvarez / Events Photographer