Christmas Parade on St. Johns Avenue

[camarocane]

A few years back I remember watching a Christmas parade filled with homemade floats travel up and down St. Johns Ave. and people throwing out candy. Does anyone know if this is still happening? If so, does is coincide with Luminaria?

[coredumped]

There's one in St. augustin and Middleburg, but I haven't heard of St Johns Ave.
http://jax4kids.com/event-listings/holiday-events/

[fieldafm]

A few years back I remember watching a Christmas parade filled with homemade floats travel up and down St. Johns Ave. and people throwing out candy. Does anyone know if this is still happening? If so, does is coincide with Luminaria?

You'd be refering to Luminaria, which is on Dec 21st this year.

This Saturday (Dec 6th) is Christmas in Avondale, which is basically a big block party where they shut down St Johns Ave in front of the Shoppes of Avondale with snow slides, kids stuff, open containers (unless you are Mellow Mushroom raising money for children fighting cancer at Nemours-then you fall under a different set of rules and have the authorities called out on you ), etc.

Next Saturday (Dec 13th) is Holidazzle at the Riverside Arts Market. RAM stays open late and they will be showing a movie under the bridge (believe its How The Grinch Stole Christmas) in the evening.

[mtraininjax]

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER will be served at Holidazzle too.

[RexMontana]

This year is my last Luminaria. It used to be so nice to ride around the Riverside Avondale area for the Luminaria and see all the homes decorated for the holidays. Now it has turned into a marshmallow and candy throwing fight where people (adults and children) arm themselves with PVC guns and either ride in trailers or stand on the side of the road and pelt anyone, especially those with an open window, with marshmallows and candy, in a mean-spirited mayhem that does nothing to conjure up the holiday spirit. I was very disappointed to see the police doing nothing to stop all the hoodlums that were vandalizing all the passing motorists and leaving the streets of St. Johns Avenue covered with all this mess and vehicles covered with marshmallows and candy stcking to their tires and body of their vehicles.

[bencrix]

There is definitely an increasingly carnivalesque atmosphere to luminaria (w/ emphasis on the CAR). Overall, I think it is fun, but agree that the event in the past had a more contemplative bent.

[bencrix]

Last year a similar discussion cropped up, in which I expressed the suggestion that a parade route be established focused on St. Johns Ave., while greatly restricting traffic elsewhere. I think one of the (well-reasoned) objections was the expense of establishing and enforcing such a thing.

[L.P. Hovercraft]

Anyone know if the luminaria bike ride still happened in spite of the drizzly weather last night? 

There's usually always a huge crowd gathered around Park and King (even though City Cycle no longer officially sponsors the ride) but there was no one there at all when we rode by last night a little before six--we rode down to FSCJ to join the Zen Cog ride and got there a few minutes past six but didn't see anyone there either.

Bummer!  Getting out of the car and going by bike is really one of the best ways to see all the lights in Riverside/Avondale IMHO.  Hopefully we were just late and missed it; I sure hope the CARnival craziness hasn't put the kibosh on this ad hoc bike parade!

[Jumpinjack]

Certainly agree that some places have ruined the atmosphere of Luminaria. But, we drove around and plenty of homes and businesses in Riverside had little glowing lights on their sidewalks and walkways. The various volunteer groups or churches spent hours putting out lights in the parks. Riverside park was glowing, peaceful and several hundred of white ibis birds in the pond made it a wonder.  Next year, get on your bike or take the car and visit some less hectic streets and enjoy the experience again.

[JeffreyS]

It is still a great event walked around last night and went to two Christmas parties connected to the event lots of fun. I would love to see RAP post many many signs next year not to throw candy or marshmallows.

[camarocane]

Unfortunately I didn't make it out this year, but I did contribute and place my bags out. My neighbor and I were the only folks on our street doing so. I certainly hope the weather was the driving factor in others not participating.

[Know Growth]

Guess not much relevant news and info here.......

Gigantic Marsh Mellows lying in the streets this year!......hmmmm.........Mellow Mushroom metaphor??.....naw,just Northeaster/warm front..........Marsh Mellows bloated in the pervasive rainwater,moisture. Some big enough to slip on, whether via foot step or bicycle "Fat" tire.
Luminary bags in wet,spent flaccid mode,candles once spurting light effectively extinguished.

For the past twenty or so Luminaria, I recall severe clear and cold,and endless Luminary Stream.

The first Luminary came as a surprise. I walked out on the balcony of my wonderful Avondale apartment.....standard dusk view........endless lighted bags on Riverside Avenue. That was around the time Biscottis opened. Lot's of bags ago.

Last year,quite by accident, I joined a wonderful bicycle parade,noted on posts here.

Hopefully this year's Low Activity was induced by inclement weather. Perhaps a needed tamp down,who knows.
After all, this year,like so many apparently, I nearly opted to skip it all.

The Bold City/Miller St Johns Ave. residence outreach a perennial magnificent function.Chiled Growlers,and plenty All Else. We talked about the appearance of Bold City at the Derby House-wonderful neighborhood spirit. The front yard fire pit crackled,and Marsh Mellows (should that be one word?) propelled. Thhhhuuuuuuuunk!

A small marshmellow lodged in my T-shirt.....I joked with my wife and friend....oh my gosh,look at my nipple.....gotta go to the skin doctor!......and then reached underneath my shirt and produced the white pearl. Good thing I flung the cup of Southern Comfort to the hedge when I did.

  That's as far as my wife & I got from the Avondale deep rural fringe this year. Not even Monty's,let alone Brick,Biscottis,BlueFish,MM.
Plenty,if not in fact too much.

[MEGATRON]

Luminaria has become a redneck street party.  Having grown up in the area, its disappointing what it has become.

[tayana42]

Most of the giant marshmallows were being thrown or shot into my yard by passing vehicles.  Not much candy this year, thankfully.  Unfortunately it all ends up in the storm sewers that carry such crap right into the St Johns River, adding pollution that the river doesn't need.

I love the look, the collaboration of RAP, neighbors, and businesses in creating this beautiful evening and want it to continue.  I would hope that action could be taken to stop pelting people and yards with candy, beads, marshmallows, etc.

[Ajax]

Anyone know if the luminaria bike ride still happened in spite of the drizzly weather last night? 

We saw about 50-75 festive bicyclists with police escort heading north on Park Street and then they turned left down Avondale Avenue - not sure where they went after that.  I think this was around 6 or 6:30. 

For what it's worth we saw some of the marshmallow shooting/tossing.  It all seemed pretty friendly, although I don't doubt that there were some people out there just being mean.  We parked at a friend's house and walked up Avondale to St. Johns (we had six adults and three 3-year-olds), and then up and down St. Johns, and it was really nice to see all the people walking around and visiting with each other.  I'll go back next year.