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The Northwest News & Tribune

Lutz Parade Features Small-Town Charm

Posted: 9 min. ago

Who says you can't wear your patriotism on your sleeve?

At this community's annual Independence Day celebration – people were wearing red, white and blue on their sleeves – and everywhere else.

They sported star-spangled T-shirts and temporary flag tattoos. They had on red, white and blue bandanas, headbands, necklaces, tennis shoes and beads.

Cheryl Benton, who organized the event's Cake Bake Contest, honored the spirit of the day by impersonating the Statue of Liberty.

About 6,000 people turned out for the event, which featured a parade, entertainment, contests, food booths and the annual election of the Lutz Guv'na, an honorary title that goes to the candidate who raises the most money for community causes.

Auralee Buckingham, the event's chairwoman, was thrilled by the turnout.

She thinks a tough economy and high gasoline prices may have kept more people home for the holiday weekend.

The parade featured 90 entries.

Youngsters walked and rode bicycles. Men drove tractors, classic cars, fire trucks and floats.

People wore all sorts of uniforms: Cub scouts, boy scouts, Little League, girl scouts and armed forces.

Belly-dancers shimmied their way down the parade route, while square dancers stepped rhythmically.

Some made martial arts moves; others sang patriotic songs.

Politicians were well-represented. Some who came want to keep their seats; others want to claim one.

The grand marshal of the parade was Michele Northrup, last year's Lutz Guv'na.

She relinquished the title, her sash and her Dr. Seuss-style hat to Terri Burgess, a second-grade teacher at Lutz Elementary, who raised $7,764.62 in this year's contest.

Hours before the parade started, people already had staked out spots along the mile-long route.

Georgette and Chris Kelly, of Land O'Lakes, got there about a quarter to eight to get the same spot on Lutz-Lake Fern Road they've been claiming for about 15 years.

Georgette Kelly, 50, said she's drawn to the event by its "small-town charm."

Chris Kelly said he can't believe how much the parade has grown through the years.

"I remember when you'd blink and the parade would be over," the 48-year-old said.

Brenda and Michael Kacsis, who live in Lutz, are also regulars at the event.

"Macy's Parade, it's not -- but it's fun," said 48-year-old Michael Kacsis.

He and his wife enjoy seeing people driving and marching by that they see around the community all of the time.

They also come early, to get a nice shady spot. They've been there so many times, they avoid sitting too far to the west because it gets too hot.

"We've learned how the sun goes," Brenda Kacsis, 48, said.

They aren't the only early birds.

Some firefighters for the Lutz Volunteer Fire Association, Inc. got there at 3 a.m. to start firing up the grills for the group's 4th of July barbecued chicken dinners.

They sell the dinners each year to raise money for equipment.

This year, they planned to cook 1,803 pounds of chicken – to provide 900 adult dinners and 400 children's meals.

Fifty-two-year-old Nancy Garvey, who lives around the corner from the fire station, bought 18 dinners – enough to feed her family and friends, and any others who would drop by.

She gets a big kick out of the annual Fourth of July festivities.

"It reminds me of Mayberry," she said.

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