Floats and decorated cars line up for last year's Middleburg Christmas Parade. | Middleburg Christmas Parade
Published on December 6, 2023 at 12:48 pm
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Clay County residents could encounter “heavy, heavy traffic” on the weekend with more than a dozen holiday events scheduled Saturday, the sheriff says.
The events include a circus and children’s event at Orange Park Mall. Holiday parades are planned in Middleburg, Keystone Heights and the Oakleaf community. Expect traffic jams on State Road 16 due to multiple events in that area, as well as Blanding Boulevard and around U.S. 17 in Fleming Island, Sheriff Michelle Cook said. And Whitey’s Fish Camp will have its 21st Annual Lighted Boat Parade.
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“We expect heavy, heavy traffic near County Road 220 near Swimming Pen Creek,” Cook said of the boat parade. “Residents and spectators should anticipate road closures and delays during the hours of these scheduled events.”
Cook is mobilizing deputies to handle traffic control and anything else that might happen. More than 150 Clay County sheriff’s deputies will be working.
To get real-time notifications on cellphones, Cook said residents and visitors should download the SaferWatch app to learn of activities, detours, road closures and delays.
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“I would also like to emphasize the importance of the community’s role in helping us maintain a secure environment and encourage residents to report anything unusual or suspicious,” Cook said. “If anybody sees something suspicious, please don’t hesitate; call us immediately, flag down a deputy or send us a SaferWatch tip on the app.”
Clay County’s website lists all of the events, including these:
- Oakleaf Christmas Parade — 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Plantation Oaks Boulevard.
- Keystone Heights Christmas Parade — 6 p.m. on Pecan Street and State Road 21, proceeding down Lawrence Boulevard through town.
- Penney Farms Christmas Parade — 9 a.m. It will be confined within the community.
- Middleburg Christmas Parade — 7 p.m. on County Road 218 in Middleburg.
- A Country Christmas — noon to 9 p.m. at 3679 Thunder Road in Green Cove Springs.
- December Kidx Event — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Orange Park Mall near JC Penneys, 1910 Wells Road.
- Circus Delman — 4:30 p.m. at Orange Park Mall.
- Holiday Inn stage show — 5:30 p.m. at the Spotlight Center, 1809 East-West Parkway, Fleming Island.
- Hometown Holiday — 5 to 9 p.m. at Clarke House Park at 1039 Kingsley Ave.
- Market & Music at the Cove — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., car and craft show at The Cove Center, 1415 S Orange Ave., Green Cove Springs.
- Parade of Trees — 8:30 to 10 p.m. at 106 St Johns Ave., Green Cove Springs.
- Sniktaw Farm Presents — 6 p.m. at 2579 Russell Road, Green Cove Springs.
- The Nutcracker — presented by the Florida Ballet at noon and 4:30 p.m. at the Thrasher-Horne Center, 280 College Drive in Orange Park.
- Vintage Oaks Country Christmas — 2 to 6 p.m. at 5960 Sweet Moody Road, Green Cove Springs.
- Whitey’s 21st Annual Lighted Boat Parade for the Safe Animal Shelter — beginning after sunset offshore of Whitey’s Fish Camp, 2032 County Road in Fleming Island. Overflow parking is available with Take A Free Ride shuttles from Swimming Penn Creek Elementary school. Go to whiteysfishcamp.com/register.
