OKEECHOBEE – A Christmas Golf Cart Parade is planned for Dec 17 in the Lazy 7 area.

At the Nov. 9 meeting of the Okeechobee County Board of Commissioners, Harry Marks, a resident of Lazy 7, asked commissioners for a special exception to hold the parade.

The parade will start on SW 21st Parkway, winding its way through Sunset Airstrip and Lazy 7, and end on SW 85th Avenue. The parade will start around dark.

“I represent my neighbors in Lazy 7 and the surrounding areas,” said Marks. He said they have designed the parade route to stay away from State Road 70 to ensure they have no issues with high speed vehicles.

He said the neighborhood has hosted informal parades in the past. Recently, the sheriff’s office has been cracking down on the illegal use of golf carts on residential roads.

Marks said they came to the commission for a special exception “to make sure we do it right.”

“This is for the good of the neighborhood, good for the community and it’s good for the kids,” said Marks.

Commissioner Kelly Owens said the parade must follow the parade safety guidelines set by the county for other parades. For example, parade participants are not allowed to throw candy, which could entice small children to run into the street into the path of vehicles. Those walking the parade route with the parade are allowed to hand out candy.

Commissioners added Sheriff Noel Stephen will also have input on parade safety.

Lazy 7 area residents are organizing the parade on their Facebook page.