The Rose Bowl, Macy’s and Saint Patrick’s (the day when they say that everyone is Irish)—are highly professional, large-scale parades broadcast into American homes. Captivating as they are, there is something particularly appealing about a hometown and homegrown pageant like South Miami’s Parade of the Elves. This is an event replete with local kids dressed as little sprites waving madly at everyone, beauty queens precariously perched on the trunks of luxury automobiles on loan from the local dealership, and music from budding young trumpet and clarinet players struggling to keep in step with the beat. Participating in the parade or cheering it on from the sidelines connects people to their community—something that seems to be in short supply in this time of electronically-induced isolationism.
Commissioner Carl Schwait leads the Elves in the 1984 Parade.THE PARADE STEPS OFF
The Parade of the Elves, much like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, was initially designed to signal the opening of the holiday shopping season (“The Holiday Spirit Starts in South Miami”). In 1983, the original organizers, members of the Red Sunset Merchants Association (RSMA) worked for months to put the event together and to raise the funds necessary to ensure a success. The parade immediately wove itself into the fabric of the lives of South Miamians. For 30 years the event has remained the official harbinger of the holiday season and the source of happy memories for generations of children who have delighted thousands as they marched down Sunset Drive in their elfin and other festive holiday attire. The parade became such an instant “tradition” that the year it didn’t happen, 1989, continues to survive in the community’s collective memory as, “A date which shall live in infamy.”
The RSMA built the parade on the kernel of an annual activity begun by former Mayor Jack Block (mayor from 1968 – 1984). He would dress as Santa and together with a number of children dressed as elves distribute candy in the city to celebrate the holiday season. In a November 28, 1983 article printed in the Community News, Mayor Block is quoted as saying, “I used to kid everybody and say I’m probably the only Jewish Santa around.”
John Sorgie of Sunset Quickprint and President of the RSMA took responsibility for organizing the parade. “The parade was one of my greatest achievements and it couldn’t have been a success without the help of people like my right-hand person Suzi Rubenstein and our other dedicated volunteers,” said Sorgie.
Antique Holsum Bakery Truck rolling down Sunset DriveRubenstein was then owner of the Nautical Loft. She and other RSMA members sponsored floats in the parade. Merchants, institutions and elected officials pooled their resources and good offices to make the parade an annual event. Among those who worked diligently in the first years of the parade were John Edward Smith, Marketing/PR Consultant, Jeanne Jolliff of Capital Bank, Trish Menninger of Chase Bank, Lydia White of Robert’s Western Wear, and Bill Enright of South Miami Hospital, who later took over the role of Santa for some five years. Early on, the name of the event changed from “Santa Parade and Cutest Elf Contest” to simply, the “Parade of the Elves.” The Cutest Elf Contest was discontinued as singling out one child put the celebrity judges in jeopardy. Instead each elf was given a participatory commemorative ribbon. In deference to affected merchants, the date moved from the first Saturday in December to the first Sunday; and the route went through a number of revisions.
“I have such nice memories of the parade: Dave Barry was Grand Marshal and he was to ride in a yellow Volkswagen convertible.
Unfortunately it had a standard transmission and the only person available who knew how to drive a stick shift was me—so I got to be Mr. Barry’s driver,” said Lydia White, whose business sponsored the South Florida Trail Riders in the parade for many years.
Her recollections include the year the organizing committee had the bright idea for White and some of her friends to carry extremely large balloons in the parade. Thinking that they were somehow rivaling the big guys in New York City, their pride turned to dismay when several large gusts of wind almost carried the women into nearby power lines.
John Edward Smith had the joy of driving his seven-month old daughter (the youngest elf) Ashley in the Grand Marshal’s convertible in the very first parade. “Skipper Chuck” Zink was the first Grand Marshal. Skipper Chuck hosted a television show for children called Popeye Playhouse from 1957 to 1979 and hosted the Orange Bowl Parade for 22 years. Popeye Playhouse was one of the first children’s programs to have a racially integrated audience. Also on his show he featured the “Word of the Day” to help young immigrants learn the English language.
Grand Marshal “Skipper Chuck” in the 1983 Parade.The first parade included Santa (Mayor Jack Block) on a tricycle, 200 young elves, honor guards, Kathy’s Klown, a clog dancing group, police on motorcycles, and a band, chorus and cheerleading group from area high schools. In addition to naming the cutest elf, the RSMA also conducted a contest for the “Best Decorated Window.”
The immediate success of the first pageant had an impact throughout the city. In 1983, Community News quoted City Manager Bill Godwin’s observations about South Miami and the parade, “It’s a community that really gets together and cares. It’s a nice image to have.”
Other parades followed and Grand Marshals included WTVJ’s legendary Ralph Renick, 90 year-old Sylva Martin, the City’s first Clerk, South Miami local baseball Hall of Famer Andre Dawson, TV Meteorologist Bob Soper and the Miami Herald’s Dave Barry.
Parade Founder John Sorgie with Santa.A DATE IN INFAMY
What if people waited for a parade, but nobody marched? That’s exactly what happened in 1989, when the parade was cancelled due to insufficient sponsorship. On-lookers filled the downtown sidewalks patiently awaiting the march of the little elves that never arrived. This was a turn of events that so concerned newly-elected South Miami Mayor Cathy McCann (1990), that she vowed it would never happen again. At this point the City of South Miami government took the responsibility for ensuring that the show must and would go on.
A NEW ERA BEGINS
Enter the City as the organizer and Barbara Acker as Parade Coordinator par excellence. Barbara, a native of South Miami and professional corporate meeting planner was tapped by City Manager Bill Hampton and Mayor McCann in 1990 to organize the event. Barbara, who received a small stipend from the City to work throughout the year on the project, brought her expertise and powers of good-natured persuasion to bear on the parade’s success. Barbara enlisted the South Miami Rotary Club to assist in the parade operations, and with good fortune Bill Enright, who had worked for years on the operational logistics for the Orange Bowl Parade. Rotarians continue to assist in the parade.
Barbara coordinated the parade for 20 years until the City de-funded her stipend, citing budget constraints. Her final year she volunteered one last time.
“The children make it all worthwhile. When a woman told me that her children were looking forward to participating in the parade with elf costumes they had designed and created, I had to volunteer,” said Barbara.
Even though 2010 was her last year with the parade, Barbara reports that she still frequently receives calls from potential participants.
South Miami Marching CobrasDuring her tenure Barbara conducted a lot of research, attending area parades in her quest to find just the right entrants for the Parade of the Elves. Every year the number grew and by 2010 there were 150 entrants in the line of march. Some groups, such as the Trail Riders, the South Miami High School Band, and the Mahi Shriners continued to participate year after year. In that 20 years, crowds grew to 5,000 appreciative on-lookers. The parade featured 500 Elves, Scout Troops, church groups, decorated cars, floats and bicycles. And Santa made his annual appearance, now regally seated on his own special float.
In special recognition of the 25th Anniversary of Santa’s Parade of the Elves (2008), parade founder John Sorgie and former Mayor Jack Block rode together at the front of the parade in a convertible. And Ashley Smith, the youngest elf in 1983, was chosen as the honorary Lead Elf.
Ashley Smith, from youngest elf in 1983 to Lead Elf in 2008THE ELVES MARCH ON
Sponsorship again kept the parade alive in 2011 when things were beginning to look a bit doubtful. Veronica Flores, Executive Vice President of First National Bank of South Miami worked together with other business leaders and then City Manager Hector Mirabile to ensure that the parade would be a reality.
Said Flores of the event and her rush to take on the challenge, “It’s all about the children.”
This year, children marching along in homemade and store-bought elf costumes will once again create happy memories. This year the parade happens because the community believes in it and it happens because sponsors such as the City, First National Bank of South Miami, Chamber South, South Miami Hospital, SOMI Magazine, the RSMA and others support it with their donations of money and hard work. And this year, a thirty-year tradition of Grand Parade Marshals continues as Pam Giganti does the honors. Giganti is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and television newswoman for NBC News 6.
Veronica “Mrs. Claus” Flores Parade Committee Chair 2011, 2012Carl Schwait, City Commissioner of South Miami from 1984 to 1990 played the role of Lead Elf in the parade for a number of the early years. A photo of a tall man in a green elf suit, tights, pointy shoes and a hat leading little elves down Sunset Drive is perhaps one of the most endearing pictures from the early days of the event. Schwait reports that the idea behind getting the children involved as participants and not merely as by-standers observing the parade was done to make the parade more “child-friendly.”
“The parade was one of the best things about being a commissioner in South Miami. While the rest of Miami-Dade County was getting more and more urban, we were able to continue to enjoy our small town life,” said Schwait.
Enjoy the parade. And if you missed it, be sure to catch it next year; it’s always the first Sunday in December.
THE TRADITION CONTINUES IN THE EYES AND LIVES OF THE NEW LITTLE ELVES…
