This Local Woman Went to the Lake Wales Christmas Parade. She Left with An Engagement Ring.
by James Coulter
Makayla Lisk set up her chair alongside Central Avenue in Downtown Lake Wales on Saturday evening. She expected to watch the annual Christmas parade.
She did not expect her boyfriend to ride by in the Rotary on the Ridge car, step out, and bend on one knee to offer her a ring.
She said, “Yes”, of course!
Trae Fraizer had been dating Makayla for two years. He decided they had been dating long enough for him to propose, and he considered the parade to be the best time to pop the question.
“I love her,” he said. “She does everything for me. She takes care of me. She makes my heart warm.”
As for being proposed to during the parade, Makayla considered it both “shocking” and “surprising.”
Nearly 100 units consisting of holiday-themed floats, marching bands, and rescue vehicles participated in the annual Christmas parade hosted by the City of Lake Wales and Rotary On The Ridge.
The units were set up at Polk Avenue Elementary School and then made their way through Downtown Lake Wales along Central Avenue and First Street before traveling through Lake Wailes Park.
Hector Cedeno of Cypress Nutrition participated with his wife dressed in their Christmas outfits and hats and with advertisements for their health drinks and snacks at Cypress Nutrition.
Hector has been participating in the parade for many years. He loves his community and loves the opportunity to get into the holiday spirit.
“We are attending the holiday event to support the community,” he said. “We love this community. We are grateful. This is a great way to give back to the community. We keep doing this because of the community. We are part of it. We are here to stay and support the community however we can as possible and help the small businesses.”
Andy Blair of Refuge on the Ridge has participated in the parade with his congregation for three straight years. Of course, he and his church rode in a float based upon the Biblical nativity.
“We feel like supporting our community is very important because they support us and it is a way for us to give back in a small way, and, more importantly, to let the community know about Refuge on the Ridge,” he said. “We always have new guys. They have no idea what they are in for. They all get blessed doing this every year.”
Shaneque Simmons of Central Florida Heat participated in the parade for the first time. She and her crew rode along with a gingerbread house decorated with softballs and other sports memorabilia.
“This is our first year,” she said. “We want to get out the energy and looking forward to seeing everyone in the community.”
