With Christmas approaching, Santa will make his rounds through Islamorada on Sunday, Dec. 14.
Organized by the Islamorada Firefighters’ Benevolent Association and Islamorada Fire Rescue, the big man in red will depart from Station 20 on Lower Matecumbe Key at 5:10 p.m. From there, the procession of fire trucks and Santa’s sleigh will work its way up the village to locations on Upper Matecumbe, Windley and Plantation Keys.
Santa will stop at Southwinds Park, where there will be hot chocolate, candy canes and caroling, courtesy of the village’s youth council. Santa’s final stop is scheduled for 9:19 p.m. on Bee Street.
As part of the parade and stops, fire rescuers will be collecting unwrapped toys. Formerly headed up by the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots, the local fire department has since taken over the important holiday toy drive. The island chain had no U.S. Marine sponsor to continue Toys for Tots, forcing Islamorada Fire Rescue and the Key Largo Fire Department to take the reins.
Islamorada Fire Rescue is taking care of kids’ Christmas wishes from MM 94.5 in Key Largo south through Islamorada, while the Key Largo Fire Department is taking care of the lists north of MM 94.5. The holiday toy drive will provide presents for kids ages 3 months to 13 years on Christmas morning.
Santa’s evening schedule
5:25 – Islamorada Mobil, Lower Matecumbe
5:40 – Tiki Lane and Robbie’s Marina
5:50 – Gib Reese Park/Wet Net Villas
6 – Moose Lodge
6:11 – Hurricane Monument
6:18 – Southwinds Park
6:30 – Three Waters Resort
6:38 – Windley Key Trailer Park
6:48 – Venetian Shores Marina
7:20 – Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina
7:30 – Sun Outdoors
7:40 – Plantation Boulevard and Orange Lane
7:57 – Key Heights subdivision
8 – Key Heights Drive and Sebring Drive
8:10 – High Point Road
8:15 – Indian Mound
8:17 – Sioux Street
8:35 – Plantation Key Colony
8:37 – Gardenia Street and Royal Poinciana Boulevard
8:47 – Hibiscus Street and Royal Poinciana Boulevard
9:05 – Sunshine Boulevard
9:08 – Canal Street and Pearl Avenue
9:19 – Bee Street
