Junior Orange Bowl Kicks Off 64th Annual Festival Season

(Coral Gables, September 2012) – Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason and Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez joined Junior Orange Bowl members, Jobie Corps Ambassadors, and guests at The Biltmore Hotel to celebrate the start of the 64th Annual Junior Orange Bowl Festival Season. The annual festival consists of over 13 athletic and academic youth events that take place from October through February throughout South Florida. The 64th Junior Orange Bowl Parade, the flagship event of the festival season, will be on Sunday, December 30 in downtown Coral Gables.

The Junior Orange Bowl will be celebrating this year’s theme “Sailing to New Adventures”, which honors the 500 year anniversary of Ponce de Leon discovering Florida.

Among the distinguished guests at the kick-off event were a number of the Junior Orange Bowl President’s Council including former Mayor of Coral Gables, Don Slesnick, II (1986-87), John Admire (1988-89), Jack Thomson (1987-88), and Mr. James Barker. Barker oversaw the incorporation of the Junior Orange Bowl as President of the organization in 1978.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez honored the Junior Orange Bowl by presenting a proclamation, which stated that Tuesday, September 18 2012 will be known as “Junior Orange Bowl 64th Anniversary Day”. 

The Junior Orange Bowl would also like to acknowledge Miami Children’s Hospital as the Official Children’s Care Provider and sponsor of the festival. Miami Children’s Hospital, who has partnered with the Junior Orange Bowl for over 15 years, has been instrumental in the development and growth of the annual festival season. 

The first official event of the 2012-2013 Junior Orange Bowl Festival will be the Cross Country Meet on Friday, October 12 at Larry & Penny Thomson Park. Other events to look forward to this Festival season are the Royal Court Search, Chess, Basketball, Golf, Tennis, Creative Writing, Sports Ability Games, Ice-Hockey, and Photography. A bowling tournament has also been added as a new event to this year’s festival line-up.