Suwannee County School Board Transportation Department’s float won first place for non-commercial float.

LIVE OAK, Fla. — The Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce put on an expanded event for its 33rd annual Christmas on the Square that began Friday and ended Saturday night with the lighted Christmas Parade.

Jimmy Norris, executive director, said the Chamber is pleased with this year’s turnout. 

“I hate to put a number on it but we know it was packed,” Norris said. 

The festivities officially began with the inaugural Snow on the Square event Friday night in downtown Live Oak. Snow on the Square was kicked off with Mayor Sonny Nobles lighting the Christmas tree.

The Chamber partnered with Busy Bee to fill downtown with more than 30 tons of snow. Children slid down slides and had snowball fights.

“It well exceeded our expectations,” Chamber president Travis Henry said. 

“We could not have anticipated the response we got Friday night,” Norris said.

Due to the large crowd, the Chamber recognizes some changes will need to made for next year. “There will be double the snow and slides in a larger area next year,” Henry said. 

Norris and Henry said Friday night was a huge success. 

“We appreciate all of the volunteers that went above and beyond to make the night a success,” Henry said. It was overwhelming and everyone did more than their share.”

Suwannee County Fire Rescue and the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office teamed up to swear-in Marshall and Chase from Paw Patrol.

Santa Claus and his elves were available for pictures in Santa Land.

The event ended with a fireworks show. 

Early Saturday morning, people began flooding into downtown Live Oak to shop at the nearly 300 craft vendor booths.

Downtown was packed with arts and crafts vendors,food vendors, more than 60 entries in the car show, an agriculture exhibit and live entertainment at Millennium Park.

There were a total of 314 vendors.

David Ferman, finalist on America’s Got Talent, entertained participants with his juggling skills and death-defying straight jacket stunt.

The Jingle Bell Fun Run/Walk started ahead of the parade this year.

Numerous floats entered to compete for several titles in this year’s parade competition.

“We had so many new floats this year,” said Karen Hurst, the Chamber’s administrative assistant.

Suwannee Valley Electric won the Grand Marshal Award, Roundsman’s Pump Repair  won first place for commercial float and for non-commercial float, first place went to Suwannee County School Board Transportation Department.

The Chamber plans to expand Christmas on the Square to two full days with vendors next year.