Jan 28, 2015
The 2014-15 bowl season was the culmination of one of the most important and challenging years in the history of Florida Citrus Sports. Together as a staff and a team of community leaders and volunteers, we were tasked with operating our events – including three signature football games – in the midst of a near-complete reconstruction of the Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium. The first year of the new College Football Playoff era presented new and unique changes across all of […]
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Dec 23, 2013
One week from today, a Central Florida tradition returns to Downtown Orlando when the Florida Citrus Parade winds down Orange Avenue and back up Rosalind Avenue on its way to Lake Eola Park. This year, a pair of Heisman winners join an Orlando resident and reigning champion golfer as the headline talent. The parade steps off at 10:00 a.m. next Monday, December 30. Justin Rose will serve as the grand marshal for this year’s parade. The Orlando resident is a […]
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Apr 15, 2013
Vonn Howard of Mercury Marine was named the 2013 Volunteer of the Year for his tremendous service with collegiate and high school bands across a number of Florida Citrus Sport events. The award was presented at the 2013 Member Celebration presented by BMO Harris Bank and Florida Hospital. A member since 2008, Howard serves on the Pageantry & Presentation Committee as a team-band liaison for both the Russell Athletic Bowl and Capital One Bowl, attending every band practice once the […]
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Nov 26, 2012
Track star and Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin will serve as grand marshal for the 2012 Orlando Citrus Parade, while Trista and Ryan Sutter — stars of the first season of “The Bachelorette” and the show’s biggest success story — will host the syndicated national broadcast. The 32nd Orlando Citrus Parade steps off in Downtown Orlando at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29. Gatlin is a five-time Olympic medalist for the United States, most recently taking bronze in the 100-meters […]
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Nov 04, 2011
Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan announced today that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, through its Fresh From Florida marketing campaign, will partner with Florida Citrus Sports on the event formerly known as the Orlando Citrus Parade. The event’s new name will be the Fresh From Florida Parade. An annual holiday classic, this year’s Fresh From Florida Parade will be held on Saturday, December 31, 2011 in Downtown Orlando, with step-off scheduled for 11:00 a.m. “The Fresh […]
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Dec 16, 2010
A pair of Knights will join the thousands of fans attending the Orlando Citrus Parade on December 30. UCF and NFL star Daunte Culpepper will return to Orlando to serve as Grand Marshal of the 30th Anniversary of the parade while another UCF football alumnus, former American Idol finalist Michael Lynche, will be a part of the event’s nationally-syndicated television broadcast as the on-street commentator. Culpepper, who recently completed his first season in the United Football League as quarterback of the […]
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Nov 16, 2010
Ten-year-old Emily Martinez from Bear Lake Elementary in Altamonte Springs was awarded the top prize in the Orlando Citrus Parade Drawing Contest and will ride in the Dec. 30 parade as Honorary Grand Marshal. Her drawing will also be used on the cover of the parade’s program. Shenandoah Elementary school student Sydney Chamberlain, 9 years old, received second place and Jacqueline Kao, 8 years old, from Metrowest Elementary was third runner-up. Children were asked to draw their best portrayal of […]
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Aug 18, 2010
Reality TV power couple Giuliana and Bill Rancic will host the nationally-syndicated broadcast of the Orlando Citrus Parade this winter. The 30th Anniversary edition of the parade steps off in Downtown Orlando at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 30. Giuliana is the popular co-anchor of E! News alongside Ryan Seacrest and is the co-star of E!’s popular Fashion Police team alongside Joan Rivers. She’s been on the red carpet for every key event in the entertainment industry (Oscars, Grammy Awards, […]
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Jan 10, 2010
Two citrus floats from the 2009 Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade were honored by judges and fans following the event. The float from the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau float, featuring a citrus rendition of a jet airliner, was given the 2009 Elmer Cook award as the best in show by a panel of media and local VIPs. The judging panel included: Christy Ashby, Editor for Orange Appeal Magazine Kathryn Saccone, Fashion Show Director for IADT Orlando […]
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Dec 30, 2009
The winner of the inaugural Citrus Sweets Dessert Challenge came all the way from Pittsboro, N.C., with her recipe: Crepes Suzette with Tangerines & Honey. Memory traveled down from North Carolina for the judging, which was held immediately prior to step-off of the Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade. The winning recipe was chosen from a group of five finalists by a judging panel that included Heather McPherson, Restaurant and Food Critic for Orlando Sentinel, Hollis Wilder, owner of the bakery Sweet!, Pam […]
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Dec 14, 2009
Three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player and four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie will serve as grand marshal for the 2009 Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade. Leslie joins fellow gold medalist Shawn Johnson and entertainers Joey Fatone and Cheryl Burke as a part of the 30th annual parade as well as its nationally syndicated broadcast. Leslie’s legacy is defined by championships. She helped lead the U.S. women’s team to four consecutive gold medals from 1996-2008, and as a member of the WNBA’s […]
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Nov 30, 2009
Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan announced talent for the 2009 Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade on Monday, Nov. 30, and the lineup will look very familiar to fans of ABC’s hit Dancing With The Stars. Entertainer Joey Fatone, dancer Cheryl Burke and Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson, all of whom have appeared on DWTS, will be a part of the parade’s nationally syndicated broadcast. Fatone, an actor, singer and dancer who currently resides in Orlando, placed second on season four […]
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Nov 12, 2009
Grace Averitt, a fourth grader at East Lake Elementary, has won the 2009 Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade drawing contest, beating out over 300 other entrants. Grace will ride in the parade on Dec. 30 as an Honorary Grand Marshal. Her winning design will serve as the cover of the parade program. Her entry was chosen as part of a Milk & Cookies Reception at the City Hall Rotunda in Downtown Orlando on Wednesday, November 11. Now in its third year, the […]
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Dec 07, 2008
The Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade presented by Delta Air Lines has secured Chris Harrison and Paige Hemmis as co-hosts for this year�s parade on December 30. Olympic Gold Medalist Ryan Lochte has been named Grand Marshal and Ashley Eckstein will serve as the parade�s on-street commentator. Harrison will be returning for his third year as parade co-host. Harrison currently hosts ABC�s romantic reality television series The Bachelor and The Bachelorette as well as HGTV�s design show Designer�s Challenge. Hemmis currently […]
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Dec 21, 2007
Dancing with the Stars winner Helio Castroneves and PGA Golfer Chris DiMarco have been named co-grand marshals for the Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade presented by Delta Air Lines. Helio Castroneves is a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion�placing first in both 2001 and 2002. The Brazil native, who races for Team Penske, is known for his tradition of climbing the racetrack fence following a victory. Castroneves has assembled 12 wins and 49 top-five finishes throughout his IndyCar career. He is also owner […]
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Dec 18, 2007
All parade talent has been finalized for the Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade presented by Delta Air Lines. The internationally-syndicated broadcast will reach over 150 markets nationwide and will extend to the United Kingdom, U.S. Virgin Island, Puerto Rico, Canada and through Voice of America. The parade, in its twenty-eighth year, is scheduled for step-off at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 29, 2007 in downtown Orlando. Chris Harrison and Jane Robelot will return as parade co-hosts. Harrison, who is in his […]
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Nov 28, 2007
Parade Committee Chairman Paul Beirnes and Parade Operations Committee Chairman Bryan Cole, both Florida Citrus Sports members, visited 8 year-old Alex Gyumishev at his elementary school on Wednesday to reward his efforts in the second annual parade coloring contest. They were joined by Parade Director Amber Mundinger to announce his achievement on WLKW, the elementary school’s student-run morning announcement show. Alex, a student at Lake Whitney Elementary, moved from Bulgaria in August and will experience his first holiday season in the United […]
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Nov 28, 2007
Florida Citrus Sports Executive Director Steve Hogan has announced that the co-hosts for the Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade presented by Delta Air Lines are Chris Harrison and Jane Robelot. They will co-host the nationally-syndicated broadcast which reaches 150 markets nationwide with a play-by-play of all the parade action. The parade is on Saturday, December 29, 2007 in Downtown Orlando, with step-off scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Chris Harrison, in his second year of co-hosting, hosts ABC�s popular romance reality series� The […]
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Oct 18, 2007
Florida Citrus Sports Executive Director Steve Hogan announced today that Spherion Corporation, a leading provider of recruiting, staffing and workforce solutions, has been designated title sponsor for the Orlando Citrus Parade presented by Delta Airlines. “We are very proud that Spherion will now be a part of the storied tradition of the Citrus Parade and the other great festivities surrounding the exciting bowl week in Orlando,” said Roy Krause, president and CEO of Spherion. With 660 offices in the United […]
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Dec 19, 2006
Florida Citrus Sports announced that the co-hosts for the 26th Annual Orlando Citrus Parade are Jane Robelot and The Bachelor’s Chris Harrison. They will host the nationally syndicated broadcast as it reaches 150 markets nationwide with a play-by-play of all the Parade action. The Parade is on Saturday, December 30, 2006 in Downtown Orlando, with step-off scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Jane Robelot has twenty-four years of broadcasting experience. Highlighting those two plus decades, are her five years with the CBS […]
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