Winter Festival Winners Announced
The 25th annual Winter Festival and Celebration of Lights event took place this past Saturday night. Competition among the approximately 85 parade entries was fierce yet again, but the difficult job of judging 'best of' parade entries has been completed, and following are the winners in various categories.
Nighttime Holiday Parade (sponsored by City of Tallahassee Your Own Utilities):
- Band: Florida State University Schools
- City Services: Tallahassee Fire Department featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus
- Clubs: Tallahassee Parrothead Club
- Corportate Float: Cabello's Hair and Nail Studio & Spa
- Corporate Vehicle: Costco Wholesale
- Non-Profit Float: Springtime Tallahassee American Territorial
- Non-Profit Vehicle: Salvation Army
- Equestrian: Leon County Sheriff's Mounted Posse
- Government Agency: Leon County Animal Control Unit
- Performing Group: Tallahassee Super Squads
- Religious Organization: Emerge Church
- School: Lively Technical Center
- Miscellaneous: Tallahassee Hog Chapter
- Best in Parade: City of Tallahassee Your Own Utilities
- Santa Claus Honorable Mention: Scottsdale Academy
In addition to the parade winners, several other competitions took place as part of the Winter Festival and Celebration of Lights, with winners listed below.
3-K Jingle Bell Run (sponsored by Capital Health Plan) winners:
- Stanley Linton (male); 9:57
- Stephanie Kurgatt (female); 12:18
Youth Ornament Tree Decorating Contest:
- Roberts Elementary School (1st place)
- Walker-Ford Community Center (2nd place)
- Jake Gaither Community Center (3rd place)
- Hartsfield Elementary School 21st Century Program (Mayor's Award)
- First Baptist Church Weekday Education (Honorable Mention)
Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibition: (Awards ceremony and reception was held on Dec. 2.)
- Middle School 1st place -- Aaron Grillot, Swift Creek
- Middle School 2nd place -- Kendra Dodson, Swift Creek
- Middle School 3rd place -- Helen Barrios, Gretchen Everhart
- Middle School Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order by last name) -- Maia Hannahs, Montford; Madison
- Southerland, Raa; Mary Lynne Steinmeyer, Holy Comforter
- High School 1st place -- Katie McTigue, SAIL
- High School 2nd place -- Keara Dana, Lincoln
- High School 3rd place -- Kylie Nerney, Chiles
- High School Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order by last name) -- Leilah Amantia, Lincoln; Nicole Tuovila, Florida State University School; Latonia Whigham, Rickards
- Mayor's Award (best of show) -- Brandon Stys, Florida State University School
Sponsored by the City of Tallahassee and coordinated by the City's Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department, the 25th annual Winter Festival and Celebration of Lights continued its tradition of welcoming the winter holiday season to the Capital City. For more information on the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department, please visit Talgov.com/parks.
Contact: Jan Bubsey, Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Affairs, 891-3860; or Bill Behenna, Department of Communications, 891-8533
Tags: Tallahassee Winter Festival Winners
