Colombian festival and parade passes through town

The Colombian parade came through town yesterday as part of the Batalla de Flores Festival which took place in Peacock Park. The parade started at City Hall and marched down South Bayshore Drive, on the north side of the street, into the park.


Some loved it, some hated it, we'll get to that. But you had to admit, it was quite lively and there was lots and lots of color. Children and adults took part and really, who doesn't like a parade?


The parade was a little more than a parade in that they took it slow and performed every few hundred feet or so, there was dancing and singing, there were floats and lots of marching.






The complaints we got were via email and in person. The noise in the park was a main concern, people in the nearby condos told me that their windows were shaking all night from the constant loud music and pounding bass, but that's easily rectified for any future events. Some did not like the drinking in the streets. By accident I got this lady downing a bottle of Johnny Walker Black, right there on the street. But again, all festivals involve drinking and waste services picked up the bottles in the end, if she doesn't want to use a glass, who cares?


It was a festival. The Colombian people are proud of their culture and this is their celebration. Many locally resent the fact that the BID was overridden by the City and they feel it was all a political thing because someone running for office wanted a favor, etc. But isn't everything run like that in this town?


It was a cool parade and festival, there was lots of native Colombian food and drink in the park and lots of music. It brought lots of people to the Grove and we did see plenty of the festival goers in the Center Grove shopping and engaging in the village, before, during and after the event. It almost felt like the gypsies were passing through town because most were dressed in bright, colorful clothing including draped flags around their bodies and some even wore the flags as capes. Many had large cowboy-type hats, too, so you really could not miss them as they passed through town.