Fire Rescue Parades Bring Santa to Neighborhood Streets
Monroe County Fire Rescue announced a series of holiday parades across the Florida Keys, with volunteer crew members handing out candy donated by IAFF Local 3909 and Santa riding on a fire truck. The schedule covers communities from Stock Island to Conch Key, and residents should follow Monroe County Fire Rescue on Facebook for exact times and route details.
On December 4 Monroe County Fire Rescue announced plans for a sequence of holiday parades to run across the Florida Keys next week, a tradition driven by volunteer crew members and local union support. The department said firefighters who are volunteering their time will ride fire trucks along neighborhood routes, throw candy donated by IAFF Local 3909, and bring Santa Claus to streets that might otherwise see little seasonal activity.
Parades are scheduled on Monday December 8 in Stock Island and Key Haven, Tuesday December 9 in Big Coppitt and Bay Point, Wednesday December 10 in Sugarloaf, Cudjoe and Summerland, Thursday December 11 in Ramrod and Little Torch, Saturday December 13 in Big Pine Key, Tuesday December 16 in Long Key and Layton, Wednesday December 17 in Tavernier, and Wednesday Christmas Eve December 24 in Conch Key and Duck Key. The release said the exact times and routes for each parade will be posted on Monroe County Fire Rescue's Facebook page before the events.
Mayor Michelle Lincoln framed the effort as civic service, saying, "Our community is better because of the people who step up to keep traditions going. Our firefighters who volunteer their time to make the holidays magical for our neighborhoods, and to bring Santa right to our streets, are a perfect example of that spirit. Their dedication keeps our community connected, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the joy they share with all of us."
The parades represent a low cost, high visibility form of civic engagement that reinforces trust between residents and public safety institutions. Volunteer involvement reduces operational expenses for the county, and the union donation of candy signals private sector participation in civic traditions. At the same time residents and local officials should be mindful of public safety and traffic impacts on parade days, and organizers must keep communication clear about routes and timing to avoid disruptions for residents who work or travel during the day.
For families and seniors who may have limited mobility, the rolling parades offer accessible holiday interaction without travel to centralized events. Residents should monitor Monroe County Fire Rescue's Facebook page for up to date route maps and times, and plan accordingly for any temporary street impacts.
