The Immokalee Chamber of Commerce and the Collier County Parks & Recreation hosted its’ 25th Birthday Celebration of the Christmas Around the World Parade and Snow Gala on December 10. This year’s theme for Christmas Around the World Parade was “Celebrating 25 Years of the Christmas Seasons in Immokalee.” The Christmas committee used all the 24 years of official themes for the entire community to select from. Indeed they did and we had a beautiful array of floats, walkers, cars and truck entries with the themes of yesteryears. The Snow Gala started immediately after the parade was over at the Immokalee Sports Complex. This year’s parade application was specially changed to accommodate the 25th Birthday Celebration of the Christmas Event Best All Around Winner was the Seminole Tribe of Florida and they took home a trophy and $300. First Place Winner was the Immokalee Foundation and they received a trophy and $200. Second Place Winner was the RCMA Communtiy School who received a trophy and $100. Third Place Winner was the David Lawrence Center, they took home a trophy and $50. The Little Mr/Ms Snowflake Competition Winners were: Ms. Daniella M. Garcia and Akeem Williams. Daniella had 103,500 pennies and Akeen had 6,400 pennies. One pennies equaled one vote. The 25th birthday celebration was a very good surprise to all who viewed the presentation. Most of the Immokalee Schools performed at the Birthday Celebration. They are as follow: RCMA Community, illijah Sentena, Jennifer Arroyo, Hailey Rivera, Pace Center for Girls, Jesenia C. Summer M, Leticia G...Immokalee Middle School, Benchy Dietrevil, Richie Bien-Aime, Zitlaly Resendiz...Lake Trafford Elementary, Dalilah Vera, Genesis Castro, Paola Flores, Ryan Garcia, Kathyn Vidaurri..Highland Elementary, Noah Smith, Arianna Herrera, Clint Johnson, Pinecrest Elementary, Vanessa Lopez-Simon, Jacob Cruz, Ever do Cardenas, Village Oaks Elementary, Jordan, Laury Mireles, Brailyn Kish and a representative from the Collier County Public School Admin. Center. Everyone sang their version of happy birthday to Christmas Around the World Event for 25 years in Immokalee. The Snow Gala had lots of entertainment, snow, food, games and crafts thru-out the entire event. Santa Claus’ helpers did something different with his landing this year from the North Pole. He arrived on the Immokalee Soccer Fields by horse and carriage, courtesy of “Whispering Pine.” The 2016 Grand Parade Marshal wasJosie Ayala and the Co-Parade Marshal was Derrick Dimas. The Immokalee Chamber of Commerce Office would like for all winners to come to 1255 North 15th Street from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to collect school pictures, your trophy and your real cash money for being selected the Best of the 2016 Christmas Parade and Gala. Danny Gonzalez. President of the Immokalee Chamber of Commerce would like to Thank the sponsors, the donors and the community for supporting this event for the last 25 years and it is his hope that this event will get bigger and better in coming years for the community. Mrs. Cherryle Thomas along with her Christmas Committee founded the event 25 years ago. We want to give her and her committee our sincere thanks.