LAKE MARY, Fla. – You can’t miss the magic in Lake Mary, and you won’t want to miss the “once in a lifetime” celebration the city has in store for the team that just won the Little League World Series.
As you drive towards the downtown area on Lake Mary Boulevard you can see a banner that congratulates the world champions.
It seems like everywhere you go there’s excitement for the home team.
“It’s just amazing,” Kelsey Tricoli told News 6. “These boys, the work they put in being so young, and now they’ll always have that foundation.”
[MEET THE TEAM: Lake Mary All-Stars]
“I’ve lived in Oviedo and Lake Mary my entire life,” said Carrie Alderman. “I know a lot of them. So, it was super exciting.”
You can cheer on the champions starting Thursday at Walt Disney World where there will be a parade at Magic Kingdom.
Public Relations Manager Joe Kepner spoke to News 6 reporter Catherine Silver about their plans.
“They’re going to run the full parade route that everybody else gets,” Kepner said. “So, they’re going to start up next to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and go down passed Frontierland passed the castle, down Main Street USA, they’ll get the full experience.”
Kepner says Walt Disney World is thrilled to give the team this opportunity.
“I can tell you this, as soon as word started getting out that we were planning a parade for the Lake Mary Little League team, I had cast members from every team at Walt Disney World texting and emailing, calling saying, ‘How can we get involved? How can we make this extra special for these kids?’ said Kepner. “We’ve got a full day of activities planned for them. Some little surprises to help make the celebration more magical.”
Kepner says there are cast members from all over Central Florida, and around the world who are ready to celebrate the hometown team, and they will get the same treatment as the pros do.
“What an incredible opportunity now for these kids who have probably watched Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes saying that same line and then they get to come here to Walt Disney World and celebrate,” said Kepner. “Just be there at 1:30p.m. with whatever Disney snack in hand ready to watch.”
Then on Saturday, Aug. 31, the city of Lake Mary is planning to host a parade and party for the boys.
News 6 has been following the planning process since the first announcement was made. Once the Lake Mary Little League team beat Chinese Taipei in extra-innings Sunday and won the LLWS, the city’s plans got even bigger.
“The kids will get recognition, but along the way, kids get to ride in convertible corvettes, and from what I hear monster trucks, we’ll have mascots from theme parks and major sporting organizations across Central Florida,” said Parks and Recreation Director Bryan Nipe.
The parade route starts at 10 a.m. on Country Club Road near Lake Mary Avenue. The procession of public safety vehicles, elected officials, marching band, local professional team mascots, former Major League Baseball players and the World championship team will head south towards Crystal Lake Avenue. The route takes them west towards 4th Street.
Right after the parade there will be a short ceremony and a block party.
There will be extended road closures, officials said.
The city recommends the following parking areas:
- SunRail Station, 2200 West Lake Mary Blvd.
- Lake Mary Elementary School
- Seminole Ave & 5th Street lot
- 101 North Country Club Road lot
- Lake Mary Community Center lot, 140 East Wilbur Ave
- Designated street parking downtown throughout the downtown area