Category: Parades

St. Augustine Easter Week Festival along with Old Town Trolley Tours of St. Augustine and Ayla’s Acres No-Kill Animal Rescue announced that Loretta Switt will be the grand marshal of the upcoming St. Augustine Easter Parade scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on March 27, 2016.

Swit is a two-time Emmy Award winner and best known for her role as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on M*A*S*H. Swit, a frequent St. Augustine visitor, animal activist and honorary board member of the local non-profit Ayla’s Acres, will lead the historic St. Augustine Parade from the Mission Nombre de Dios down San Marco Avenue to Avenida Melendez and through the historic district downtown.

“Old Town Trolley Tours of St. Augustine is pleased to work with Ayla’s Acres to bring Ms. Swit to St. Augustine to lead this important and historical parade for our community and continue honoring St. Augustine’s 450th anniversary,” said David Chatterton, Old Town Trolley Tours of St. Augustine General Manager and St. Augustine Easter Week Festival Parade Director.

The St. Augustine Easter Parade began in 1956 through the organization of the St. Augustine Easter Week Festival, which was created at the time to increase tourism in the area. This family friendly parade, always on Easter Sunday, is known as the Parada delos Caballos y Coches, Parade of Horses and Carriages, and features St. Augustine’s Royal Family, the Easter Bunny, clowns, drill teams, community floats and marching bands,

This parade is a staple in the St. Augustine community, and all of the team members of Ayla’s Acres, including Ms. Swit, are excited to be part of this tradition,” said Fran Charlson, Executive Director of Ayla’s Acres.

“Rounding out St. Augustine’s 450th Anniversary year, we are pleased to say that the St. Augustine Easter Week Festival tradition is stronger now more than ever, and we hope that the parade continues for the next 450 years,” said Michele Reyna, President of the St. Augustine Easter Week Festival.