Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade to necessitate street closures, Police Department advises the public

Parade will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7

St. Nicholas waves from a float during the 2012 Sarasota Holiday Parade. File photo

The 24th annual Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m., the Sarasota Police Department has announced.

The parade will begin at the intersection of Main Street and U.S. 301 in downtown Sarasota and end at J.D. Hamel Park at the intersection of Main Street and Gulfstream Avenue, a news release notess.
Several vehicle tow-away zones and street closure notices will be in effect for the following times, the release points out:
• 9 a.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Main Street closed from Osprey Avenue to U.S. 301
• 9 a.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Main Street closed from Orange Avenue to Osprey Avenue.
• 11 a.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Main Street closed from U.S. 41 to Orange Avenue.
• Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Main Street closed from U.S. 301 to School Avenue.
• Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Fletcher Avenue closed from Main Street to Fruitville Road.
• Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday —Wallace Avenue closed from Main Street to Fruitville Road.
• Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — East Avenue closed from Fruitville to Ringling Boulevard.
• Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — School Avenue closed from Main Street to Fruitville.
• Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Audubon Place closed from Main Street to Fruitville.
• Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — First Street closed from Audubon Place to East Avenue.
• 2:30 p.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Lemon Avenue closed from First Street to Main Street.
• 3 p.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Gulfstream Avenue closed from U.S. 41 to McAnsh Square.

Roads will reopen after the end of the parade reaches a two-block distance from each point of closure, the news release adds.

Vehicles not removed by the posted times will be towed at the owner’s expense, the news release stresses. For information on towed vehicles, persons may contact Upman’s Towing at 941-365-7084.