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Phil Stacey Grand Marshal of the Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade
JACKSONVILLE, FL American Idol superstar and former Jacksonville resident Phil Stacey is the Grand Marshal of the Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade and will be the star performer at the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl on New Year’s Day as he sings the National Anthem. Stacey became famous while performing on American Idol and won the hearts of Jacksonville citizens with his humor and charm. The theme of the Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade, “Take a Walk on the Wild Side”, suits Stacey well because of his time spent serving the Navy and even more dangerously surviving Simon during his stint with American Idol.
The Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade is an annual event that starts at 3:00 p.m. December 31 in downtown Jacksonville. The Opening Parade production will feature up and coming teen star Courtney Now. At the young age of 14, Now has already made several CDs including two with Willie Nelson and Earth, Wind, and Fire, respectively.
Grand Marshall, Phil Stacey will be joined by VIP Marshals Roger ‘Roc” LaRue and Chef Robert Tulko. ‘Roc’, as he is known, is a Rockabilly Hall of Fame member and kept the Rockabilly revolution alive with his famous hit “Baby Take Me Back.” Chef Robert, a member of the First Coast News Family, is famous for his recipes he shares with thousands of Jacksonville citizens on Good Morning Jacksonville.
The Gator Bowl Parade has nearly 100 participants which include bands, giant helium balloons, floats, and performers. The parade has hosted some of the best high school and college bands in the country and this year is no exception. 14 high schools bands coming from as far as Pennsylvania and Arizona will be joined by marching bands from both Texas Tech University and the University of Virginia.
One of the main attractions of the Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade is the famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses who will make their way down the parade route. Giant helium balloons including Bob the Builder, sponsored by Cash Building Material Company, Jerold the Book Worm, sponsored by State Farm Insurance, and others will delight young and old alike. Underneath the towering balloons will be Jacksonville’s finest floats. Judging the floats will be the five Dairy Queen Half Pint Judges who won a contest hosted by Dairy Queen to hold the position of honor. The five children judges (Emma Atkins, 9, Jordan Bottaro, 11, Terri Henderson, 10, Zachary Lawrence, 8, and Rachel Courson, 12) select their favorite float to win the Dairy Queen Half Pint Award, the most prestigious tribute in the entire parade.
