US Open Champion Justin Rose, Ron Dayne and George Rogers All Join Florida Citrus Parade Lineup
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 10-year veteran of the PGA Tour and won his first major championship this year at the 2013 US Open. He was the first English player to win a major since 1996. Over his career, Rose has 14 professional wins, including five on the PGA Tour. He also finished tied for third at the 2012 PGA Championship, his best finish in a major until this year’s win.
Two Heisman Trophy winners will join Rose as VIP guests in the parade. University of South Carolina great and 1980 Heisman recipient George Rogers will represent the Gamecocks in the parade, leading the South Carolina marching band. Rogers was the first overall pick in the 1981 NFL draft and went on to play seven seasons as a professional, finishing with 7,176 rushing yards and 54 touchdowns in his career.
On the other side, Wisconsin will be represented by Ron Dayne, 1999 Heisman winner and 2013 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame. Dayne’s 6,397 rushing yards during his college career still stand as an NCAA football bowl subdivision record. He will lead the University of Wisconsin Marching Band through the streets of Downtown Orlando.
In addition to these sports luminaries and the famed college marching bands, the 2013 Florida Citrus Parade will feature high school bands from across the country and the famed citrus floats, made up of thousands of pieces of citrus that will be placed by hand this week. The parade is free to all guests and is one of the most popular family events of the holiday season.
You can see more info about the parade, including the full lineup, at FloridaCitrusParade.com