Monitor Editor
MELROSE— Many smaller towns don’t have a single Christmas parade, but the community at the corners of Bradford, Putnam, Clay and Alachua counties featured two Christmas parades this year: the Merry Melrose Christmas Parade on Dec. 11 and the Bonnie Melrose Christmas parade the following Saturday.
Tom Germano, the second-year president of the Melrose Business and Community Association said last year, the COVID-19 pandemic knocked out the daytime parade the MBCA had produced for years.
Amy Stanley of Melrose Patriots added that when her group heard about the cancellation, its members decided to step in.
“We found out during Halloween that the regular daytime Christmas parade had been cancelled, because of COVID,” said Stanley, “and so many people in the community were bummed out about that because we were missing out on so many events because of COVID. We decided to throw one together as quickly as we could.”
“It was an overwhelming success,” she added. “Lots of people came out. Lots of people had fun and we wanted to do it again this year.”
“The Patriots did the night parade (last year) and it turned out very well,” Germano added. “I think a lot of people missed the day parade and I’m so happy that we’re doing it this year.”
Germano further noted that in addition to the parades, both groups organized accompanying events at Heritage Park and at Mossman Hall.
He said the two Christmas celebrations reflect Melrose’s community spirit.
“There is a lot of community spirit here,” he said. “People are proud of Melrose, and I think both parades highlight that.”
Germano added that while some may view the two parades as competing events, he does not agree.
“I know a lot of people probably look at it that way,” he said. “I don’t see it that way. The MBCA welcomed the Patriots parade last year. We didn’t try to stop it.”
Germano also noted that this year, each group is participating in the other organization’s parade.
“We are two different organizations that are both trying to do a lot for the community,” he added.
Stanley said that in addition to community pride, another factor figures into the existence of the two parades.
“It’s an extra ounce of Christmas spirit that we have in Melrose,” she said.
