Deck the golf carts

Last year, around this time, Traci Gaddis journeyed to the Mexico Beach post office in her usual holiday fashion.

She drove a red golf cart decked out in garland and Christmas lights, with a three-and-a-half foot inflatable reindeer strapped to the back.

Those who knew her expected no less from Gaddis.

The Port St. Joe Elementary School art teacher outfits her golf cart according to the season, even inventing her own holidays in sad, festive free months like August.

But on this particular afternoon, Gaddis' golf cart stopped a five-year-old boy in his tracks.

Surveying the crazy cart, with its Macy's-sized reindeer, the boy thought he'd stumbled upon a parade.

The idea amused Gaddis, who let the boy down gently.

No, she wasn't a parade, but maybe one day she could start one.

Over the next 12 months, Gaddis could think of little else but the first annual Mexico Beach golf cart parade.

During her afternoon rides in the golf cart, she shared her idea with fellow carters, who make up a sizeable percentage of the town's residents.

Mexico Beach has over 100 registered golf carters, and a few shared Gaddis' enthusiasm.

In October, Gaddis snapped up some battery-powered Christmas lights from Target and began mentally dressing her cart.

In November, she made her pitch before the Mexico Beach city council, and received approval, even as one council member expressed concerns over safety.

Working closely with Mexico Beach police chief Brad Hall, who addressed the safety issues, Gaddis rounded up eight participants for the parade, held the night of Dec. 6.

Kicking off Mexico Beach's tree lighting ceremony, the parade proceeded from City Hall on 14th Street, down U.S. 98 to Sunset Park.

Participants embraced the holiday theme.

Sharon Call of Sharon's Café outfitted her cart with an inflatable surfer Santa, reindeer and penguin.

Andi Ashmore's cart featured a generator-powered fireplace with fake flames and two adorable dogs, Graci and Sassie, dressed as reindeer.

Gaddis brought her inflatable reindeer out for another round, this time strapping him to the top of her cart, which was festively adorned with lights and garland.

Mexico Beach mayor Al Cathey, the parade's unofficial grand master, road lead, and Santa Claus hitched a ride in a fire truck for the finale.

In Sunset Park, residents enjoyed hot apple cider and some face time with Santa. The golf cart parade was on everyone's lips.

"I could not believe how many people came up to me and said that the parade made the tree lighting ceremony," said Gaddis. "I was thrilled with it."

Gaddis presented each participant with a red and green "2009" Christmas stocking as a memento.

She has already begun planning next year's parade.

"Next year will be bigger and better," said Gaddis, displaying her competitive side in the arena of golf cart decorating.

"I will have inflatables next year," she pledged. "Sharon will not show me up next year."