Community members packed into line University Avenue in downtown Gainesville on Saturday for the city’s second annual “A Very GNV Holiday Parade.” 

The parade drew in over 100 requests to participate, more than the city’s goal for the year in the event. Participation was free in this parade, which is largely funded by local sponsors. 

Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal was chosen to act as grand marshal for this year’s holiday parade, and he glided onto University Avenue in a Blackfin boat with a “Shaq-A-Clause” hat. 

Last year’s holiday parade was the city’s first since the 1990s, an initiative headed by City Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut that drew about 90 participants. Former Florida Gators head football coach Steve Spurrier acted as grand marshal for the inaugural parade. 

The 2023 parade was estimated to have brought in about 5,000 spectators, and this year’s was no less vibrant. 

Cox Communications and UF Health were this year’s platinum sponsors, who donated $10,000 or more. Gold sponsors, who donated $5,000, included The Collier Companies, Monterey, The Community Foundation of North Central Florida, Morgan & Morgan, GFL Environmental, Santa Fe College, Pavlov Media and Viking Property Management. 

Sapphire sponsors, who donated $1,500, include Akira Wood, Audi Gainesville, Becker & Pollakoff, CampusUSA Credit Union, Children’s Trust of Alachua County, Cynthia Moore Chestnut, D.E. Scorpio Corporation, EDA, Eden Park at Ironwood, Gainesville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Gainesville Housing Authority, Gainesville Regional Airport, Gainesville Regional Utilities, Gatorland Toyota/BMW of Gainesville, Mercedes-Benz of Gainesville, Oelrich Construction, Trimark Properties and Mainstreet Daily News. 

Mainstreet Daily News also participated in the parade.