Lakeland shortens its 2023 Christmas Parade route to avoid Lake Morton Drive and its swans

Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger
Updated ·2 min read
A swan swims through the reflection of lights from the floating Christmas tree in Lake Morton in 2012. Responding to concerns about the safety of swans in Lake Morton, the City of Lakeland changed its planned Christmas parade route for the second time in a month to now avoid most of Lake Morton.
A swan swims through the reflection of lights from the floating Christmas tree in Lake Morton in 2012. Responding to concerns about the safety of swans in Lake Morton, the City of Lakeland changed its planned Christmas parade route for the second time in a month to now avoid most of Lake Morton.

LAKELAND ― Lakeland's 2023 Christmas parade will feel a little bit shorter, but it's probably better for the safety of all — including the city's beloved feathered denizens.

Less than a month after Lakeland officials said the 2023 parade would circle Lake Morton because of major construction on the tradition route, the city said Tuesday it had modified the route again because of concern about the impact it could have on Lake Morton and the city's swans.

Bob Donahay, the city's director of parks, recreation and cultural arts, announced this year's route will no longer include Lake Morton Drive.

"This decision is based on public safety and the expense it would take to properly manage the lakeshore but possible impacts to the swan population at Lake Morton was another huge factor," read a public statement from Donahay.

For the second time in a month, the route of Lakeland's 2023 Christmas parade has changed - first because of construction on the traditional route, and now because of outcry that wildlife could be affected along Lake Morton.
For the second time in a month, the route of Lakeland's 2023 Christmas parade has changed - first because of construction on the traditional route, and now because of outcry that wildlife could be affected along Lake Morton.

At the beginning of October, Lakeland announced its 42nd annual Christmas Parade would detour from its traditional route circling Lake Mirror because of ongoing construction impacting Orange Street and Lake Avenue. Instead, a modified route was slated to travel along Lake Morton Drive with instructions that onlookers would stay away from the lakeshore and not feed the swans during the parade.

The changes caused near immediate public outcry over what impact thousands of guests could have on the city's flocks. Sally Bendele and her partner, Sydney Milton, created a petition on Change.org asking the city to divert the parade from Lake Morton.

The latest modification will have the parade traveling along a limited section of Lake Morton Drive — roughly 600 feet — rather than making a nearly full circle of the lake. It's the same modified route used in 2006 when there was downtown construction, according to Donahay.

Lakeland officials have shortened the modified route for the city's 42 annual Christmas Parade, shown above in bright green, due to anticipated expenses of safeguarding Lake Morton and public safety concerns raised for the city's beloved swans.
Lakeland officials have shortened the modified route for the city's 42 annual Christmas Parade, shown above in bright green, due to anticipated expenses of safeguarding Lake Morton and public safety concerns raised for the city's beloved swans.

The start of the parade will be marked by fireworks over Lake Mirror about 7 p.m. on Dec. 7. The parade will step off from the RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St. , traveling east along Lemon Street into the downtown area. It will turn left on Tennessee Avenue then right on Main, traveling along the southern edge of Munn Park.

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The parade will turn right at Massachusetts Avenue, heading south past City Hall to the shores of Lake Morton. It will now turn right, sending marchers and floats counterclockwise along a short portion of Lake Morton Drive. The parade will travel to Walnut Street to head north on Tennessee Avenue. At Orange Street, the route will turn left so marchers and floats can end at the RP Funding Center.

The city expects more than 120 entries into this year's parade, themed "Christmas in Candyland," including floats, marching bands and decorated trailers. The parade will end with everyone's favorite, Mr. and Mrs. Claus atop their sleigh. Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFL.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Now that's clout: Swans move Lakeland to change Christmas parade route