Press release: Gainesville will laugh like never before when the Flying Pig Parade steps out on December 30th.
The zany procession will be a colorful light-hearted version of a traditional holiday parade. “The Pig” will celebrate all that’s weird and wonderful about Hogtown and poke fun at the year that was, 2023.
It’ll be similar to The King Mango Strut, a popular parade in Coconut Grove, Florida.
It’s been marching since 1982. It’s co-founder, Glenn Terry, lives in Gainesville now. He ran the Strut for 28 years and is leading the effort to make the pig fly here.
“Our city needs an event like this,” said Terry, “It’ll bring much needed mirth and merriment to downtown G-ville”.
The “New Parade Committee” is meeting regularly to work out details. They expect to have thirty-plays groups participating along with local bands, and perhaps, a few live pigs.
One church is forming a lawn chair precision drill team. There could be a pillow fight between two men running for President as well.
The parade will be led by the winners of the “Little Miss Piggy Beauty Pageant.” All of the crowned contestants (ages 2 through 8) will tie for first place and wave proudly from the back of a brightly decorated truck. The oinking aviator is well aware that everyone is beautiful.
The promenade’s participants will first line up in Bo Diddley Plaza. At two p.m. the parade will begin on SE 1 St and march south to the Hippodrome Theater. At the Hipp the procession will take a few turns and eventually end up where it began.
The marchers and their fans will then have a post-parade fiesta with entertainment provided by the procession’s bands and each other.
It’s time downtown Gainesville got its own awesome parade. If it’s anything like the Strut, thousands of people will be delighted by this festive, end-of-the-year celebration.
