Emma Larkoswski, 3, takes in the excitement and wonderment of the annual New Smyrna Beach Christmas Parade on Dec. 7, in the beachfront city, beginning on Flagler Avenue near the beach approach, heading west across the North Causeway Bridge to the mainland and south on Riverside Drive, then west onto Canal Street, just before U.S. 1. The parade was more than 2 1/2 hours in length. Enjoy the 14 videos shot & produced by the internet newspaper. The video camera battery died about 10 minutes before the parade finally ended, well under darkness. Below, New Smyrna Beach Mayor Jim Hathaway, elected mayor in November, is shown with his wife, Paula, at the front of the parade where he was the grand marshal.NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Count 3-year-old Emma Larkowski among the 10,000 thousand or so locals who loved the 2014 New Smyrna Beach Christmas Parade, certainly among the longest and most festive in Volusia County, with newly-elected Mayor Jim Hathaway serving as the grand marshal.
Hathaway returned to the City Commission with his overwhelming victory in the November general elections over then-Commissioner Jack Grasty after a two-year absence, having given up his municipal post and 18 years of tenure to run for a seat on the County Council in 2012.
The New Smyrna Beach Christmas Parade comes in at No. 91 in the Headline Surfer® countdown of the top 100 local stories of 2014.
And while Hathaway basked in the lead of the parade, other dignitaries were in the procession as well, including Volusia County at-large Councilwoman Joyce Cusack and district 3 Councilwoman Deb Denys.
And little Emma Larkowski, granddaughter of Sue Payne of Oak Hill, a frequent attendee of Oak Hill City Commission meetings. loved the New Smyrna Beach High School Marching Band as she waved and said "Merry Christmas" to everyone in the parade who passed by, her mother Danielle Larkowski told Headline Surfer®.
"Emma was a very excited little girl when she saw Santa Claus," the proud mom said. "She received a small unicorn stuffed animal from a little girl and that just made her night!"
"Emma was a very excited little girl when she saw Santa Claus," the proud mom said. "She received a small unicorn stuffed animal from a little girl and that just made her night!"
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The HeadlineSurfer.com Countdown of the Top 100 Local Stories of 2014...
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