Strike up the band! The official start of the Holiday Season will get underway when the 16th Annual ‘Miracle on 136th Street Holiday Parade’ marches into The Falls on Saturday, November 17th at 4:00 pm. Sponsored by South Miami Fiat, Beaches®Resorts, Cox Radio (Easy 93.1 and 97.3 the Coast), and Baptist Children’s Hospital, this year’s Holiday Parade benefits the South Dade YMCA Family Center, which is opening a brand new center the end of 2012.
Free and open to the public, this year’s parade will feature local marching bands, bag pipers, stilt walkers, a junkanoo band, a mariachi band, Brazilian dancers, a Dixieland Band, a penny-farthing bike, local dignitaries, and more! The Jolly Old Elf himself will also make his long-awaited first arrival of the season along with Mrs. Claus and their little helpers.
Celebrity Grand Marshal, Coco Jones, from Disney Channel’s original movie Let It Shine, will lead the way. Jones has also had recurring roles on Disney Channel’s So Random! and Good Luck Charlie. Coco recently signed to Hollywood Records and has been in the studio co-writing and recording all-new original music for her highly anticipated debut album.
Local celebrities including the Mayor of the Village of Pinecrest Cindy Lerner and the Mayor of Cutler Bay Ed MacDougall, plus Roxanne Vargas of NBC6, Mariana Rodriguez of Telemundo 51, Eileen Cardet of Univision, and Chief Meteorologist Max Mayfield of Local 10 will be spreading holiday cheer as they wave to joyful spectators from vintage cars.
“The Falls is thrilled to welcome Coco Jones and our other special guests to the Miracle on 136th Holiday Parade. It is exciting to celebrate our 16th year of this event. The Falls’ ‘Miracle on 136th Street’ Holiday Parade has become a South Florida tradition that welcomes the spirit of the season,” said Julie Goldman, mall manager at The Falls. “We always enjoy seeing so many people attend the parade. We are honored to have the opportunity to bring such a wonderful event to the community that helps create holiday memories that will last a lifetime.”
Spectators are encouraged to arrive early to line both sides of the parade route before the 4:00 p.m. kick off. The parade route, which is located on the Boulevard in between the center and the parking lot, will start at the east end of The Falls in front of Bloomingdale’s and wind through the entire length of the center, west toward Macy’s.
Coco Jones will take the stage at 6:30 pm on Center Court following the holiday parade to perform joyous holiday music, plus a single off her upcoming album. Guests will also see Two Night Stand by Macy’s, and performances by Cache plus a fire eating dancer by Bloomingdale’s. Additionally, the guests will see routines by a Brazilian Dance Troupe and a Polynesian Drum Band on the Center Court stage.
Following the Parade, the lights of the season will come aglow at The Falls as hundreds of thousands of lights that showcase giant animal topiaries and elaborate water elements to include elephants, giraffes, peacocks, camels, dolphins and more will illuminate the shopping center’s gardens and waterfalls. Santa will also take up residence and be available for photos in Center Court at the Santa House.
Retailers will also offer great holiday shopping opportunities, in-store promotions and specials. Many of these are included in The Falls Holiday Coupon Book, including a chance to win the family vacation of a lifetime to any Luxury Included® Beaches® Resort, located in the beautiful Caribbean islands of Jamaica and Turks & Caicos! Please visit Simon Guest Services at The Falls for more information, including rules and regulations.
The Y is a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Y impacts the Greater Miami community by nurturing the potential of kids, improving individual and community health and well-being, and giving back to our neighbors. The Y connects our community through four Family Centers, three preschools, and many afterschool, youth sports and day camp programs throughout Miami-Dade County and the Upper Keys. In January 2013 the South Dade YMCA Family Center opens a new wellness center which will serve more than 3,500 families through healthy and life-changing programs. To learn more, visit www.ymcamiami.org, connect on Facebook or Twitter, or call toll free 877.969.9622 to find a Y near you.