Florida Citrus Sports Ends Orlando Citrus Parade After 39 Years

- Michelle Snow

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For nearly four decades, the streets of downtown Orlando would come alive with the year-ending Orlando Citrus Parade. This month, parade organizers announced the end of this signature event.

Spearheaded by Florida Citrus Sports, the event featured marching bands from high schools across the country as well as the participating Big Ten and SEC universities in the Citrus Bowl, making the event one of the largest sports-affiliated parades in the nation.

It began in 1980 and was traditionally held before New Year’s Day to celebrate bowl games at what is now Camping World Stadium.

Known for its signature citrus floats, decorated with oranges, grapefruits and tangerines, the parade also featured local and national celebrities, theme park characters from Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, and more.

Unfortunately for the non-profit organization, operating costs, which averaged around $400,000 annually, just became too much. Rather than scale back the parade, they decided to end it on a high note.

Of course, never say never. Florida Citrus Sports says they would love to bring the Citrus Parade back if they could find the right sponsors.

Until then, in remembrance of a parade that lit up downtown Orlando every year in shades and smells of citrus, here are photos from the Orlando Citrus Parade in past years:

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London watches the beautiful Downtown Orlando @dwntwn_orlando float roll by carrying country singer Jo Dee Messina @jodeemessina during the Citrus Bowl Parade on Saturday. All of the Citrus fruit that decorated these floats was donated after the parade to organizations serving the homeless in the Orlando Area. ??? #citrusbowlparade #orlandocitrusparade London is from @fairytail_dragons_llc . #thebandofbeardies #beardeddragon #beardeddragonsofinstagram #beardeddragonlove #beardielove #beardiesofinstagram #beardiesofig #motherofdragons #beardeddragons #beardeddragonoftheday #beardeddragonphotooftheday #pogonavitticeps #beardies #itsabeardieslife #instabeardie #dragonbarbudo #dragaobarbudo #dragobarbuto #??????????????? #????????? #???? #?????? #??? #bärtigerdrache

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London decided the The Battle Hymn of the Republic was her JAM during the Attica Senior High School Marching Band performance in the Citrus Bowl Parade on Saturday! #atticahighschool #atticahighmarchingband #atticaseniorhighmarchingband ??? #citrusbowlparade #orlandocitrusparade London is from @fairytail_dragons_llc . #thebandofbeardies #beardeddragon #beardeddragonsofinstagram #beardeddragonlove #beardielove #beardiesofinstagram #beardiesofig #motherofdragons #beardeddragons #beardeddragonoftheday #beardeddragonphotooftheday #pogonavitticeps #beardies #itsabeardieslife #instabeardie #dragonbarbudo #dragaobarbudo #dragobarbuto #??????????????? #????????? #???? #?????? #??? #bärtigerdrache

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I love parades! #orlandocitrusparade

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About Michelle Snow

Michelle is the owner and editor of CitySurfing Orlando. She also owns Zengrrl.com, is a freelance writer specializing in travel and entertainment, has authored/co-authored four guidebooks on Orlando and Florida, and was head editor/writer at TheDisneyBlog.com for 10 years. She's lived in Orlando near Walt Disney World since 1995, and still finds there's so much fun to be had in Central Florida.
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