GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Nov. 29, 2023) – More than 90 dance troupes, marching bands, floats and community groups will make their way down University Avenue in the 2023 A Very GNV Holiday Parade, the City of Gainesville’s first parade in decades. Former Florida Gators Head Football Coach Steve Spurrier will appear as its grand marshal.

The parade is the first of several downtown City events this Saturday to usher in the holiday season, and City and community leaders invite all neighbors to enjoy the day’s festivities. All events are free and open to the public.

2023 A Very GNV Holiday Parade

When: Noon-2 p.m. Sat., Dec. 2

Start: intersection of W. University Ave. and W. 6th St.

End: 620 E. University Ave. (ACPS Admin Bldg.)

Holiday Kids Dance Party

When: 3-5 p.m. Sat., Dec. 2

Where: Bo Diddley Plaza, 111 E. University Ave.

Holiday Lights Celebration

When: 5:30-8 p.m., Dec. 2

Where: The Historic Thomas Center, 302 N.E. 6th Ave.

Traffic impacts

• N.W. 6th Street between W. University Ave. and N.W. 8th Ave. will serve as the staging area for parade entries and will close at 7 a.m. Saturday until the final entry enters the parade route.

• East University Avenue from W. 7th Street to E. 7th Street will close at 11 a.m. Saturday and reopen gradually as the final entry travels the parade route.

• Buses along certain Regional Transit System (RTS) routes will experience delays Saturday. Visit the City’s RTS website for details.

#GNVholidayparade is the official hashtag of the parade. Neighbors are invited to tag the City when posting photos online, using @GainesvilleFL on Facebook; @gainesvillefla on Instagram; and @Gainesvillegov on X (formerly Twitter).

The parade will be livestreamed on the City’s Facebook page. It will be recorded for replay on Community 12TV, and available on demand after the event on GNV TV through Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices.

Thank you to the sponsors of the 2023 A Very GNV Holiday Parade.

City of Gainesville Holiday Parade Sponsors

Platinum ($10,000+)

Cox Communications

MARC Radio

UF Health

Gold ($5,000)

The Collier Companies

GFL Environmental, Gainesville, FL Branch

Morgan & Morgan

Silver ($2,500)

Gas South

Greater Gainesville Chamber Foundation

RADDSports

Weyerhaeuser Company

Sapphire ($1,500)

Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey

Audi Gainesville

CAMPUS USA Credit Union

Celebration Pointe

Chestnut Funeral Home

Children’s Trust of Alachua County

CPPI

Duke Energy

EDA Consultants, Inc.

Eden Park at Ironwood

Fletcher Family Companies

Gainesville Fire Rescue Chief Joe Dixon

Gainesville Housing Authority

Gainesville Police Chief Lonnie Scott

Gainesville Regional Airport

Kiss 105.3

McDonald’s

Oelrich Construction, Inc.

San Felasco Tech City

Scherer Construction

Scorpio Corporation

Trimark Properties

WPZM-PRAIZE 107.5-FM

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