Attending a Christmas parade in Florida takes a different type of planning. Compared to snow-covered parade-watching – I’ve stood in Michigan freezing weather – there are a few things to keep in mind when standing in the hot sun!

Here’s my “Parade-Watching Tips”:

Wear lightweight clothing such as shorts and t-shirt – or a comfy cotton wrap dress
Bring a sweater as it can be a bit chilly in the morning (then take off as the day progresses into afternoon)
Bring a few bottles of water (freeze two bottles for icy cold water later)
Bug spray, if watching a parade near the lake or river waters
Sunscreen! Be sure to apply at least a half hour before the festivities begin
Lightweight folding chairs (no lugging of heavy chairs in 80-degree weather)
Blanket (if sitting on the grass)
Paper towels (great for food spills… or perspiring foreheads)
Dried fruit & nut snacks (no sandwiches with mayo or spoil-worthy chicken)
Sunhat (sun visor, wide-rimmed sun hat, or baseball hat)
Chapstick to prevent sunburned lips
Fully-charged phone for taking awesome photos and videos!