Houston Springs retirement community to host annual Christmas golf cart parade for residents

PERRY – Houston Springs 55+ lifestyle community will be hosting their annual Christmas Golf Cart Parade starting at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec.13.

Houston Springs is a retirement community made up of 300 houses and host events year-round to bring residents together. Approximately 20 golf carts will participate in the parade this year, according to Cindy Gadola, a member of the Houston Springs Social Committee. 

Gadola said participants dress up, decorate their golf carts with different themes and drive around the upper and lower neighborhoods. She shared the parade starts in the upper neighborhood which is the Quail Run Clubhouse. The parade is only for Houston Springs residents, and only people invited can attend it.

“We just make a parade of golf carts, and we drive through the neighborhood. Some people will throw out little bags of candy,” she said.

Organizers will let people know what time the parade will get to each neighborhood. Gadola said people will invite their grandchildren and they will sit outside admiring as the parade goes by. She also shared the golf carts will have battery operated lights and music which always brings out their inner child.

“We’re just like a bunch of teenagers. Hollering and waving at people and it’s just a lot of fun,” she said.

Afterwards, they will offer hot chocolate and cookies at the clubhouse for everyone. Gadola said she enjoys seeing grandparents inviting their grandchildren and other family members to their homes.

She also shares parade participants enjoy dressing up in costumes, lighted hats and necklaces. 

The parade also gives residents the opportunity to see everyone’s Christmas decorations. Gadola said even though they don’t have kids at home anymore, they still decorate for the season.

“We may be older in age but we’re still young at heart,” she said.

Gadola has been living in the retirement community for three years and has seen it grow over the years. She said a lot of new homes have been built and they are always looking to make improvements. The community enjoys getting their residents involved, including having a welcome committee when people move into their new homes. Gadola also said there are a lot of card games, pickleball, cornhole and activities for residents to try.

Every Friday night, residents get together at the clubhouse, bring food and get together like they did in their youth. 

“When we were younger on Friday night that was always a night to celebrate and go do something. We do it here together,” she said.

The annual Christmas parade is also a way to bring them all together and kick off the holidays. 

“This is a good way of us getting to know our neighbors because it really lets your hair down because everybody is just in a good mood,” she said. “You may not know everybody in the parade, but you feel more comfortable going up to them, introducing yourself and talking to them about their golf cart that is decorated.” 

Gadola describes it as a good “icebreaker” to start talking to people after the parade. She shares she has never been around so many friendly people. Gadola was surprised to see people from all over the country move to the area. She said she believes it is because of Robins Air Force Base since people move to the area because their kids or grandchildren are involved in the military. Residents move to the community to be closer to their families.

Gadola shares there are residents from New York state who found out about Houston Springs through the internet. She also said she has neighbors from Florida who recently moved to the community due to the hurricanes but still want to be close to their home state.

She hopes the Christmas parade will help residents get to know their neighbors and believes it makes everybody friendlier. 

Gadola also hopes the parade will create a closeness since it is a very close-knit community. She said everyone is always looking out for another.

“It’s the season of life we’re in and [our] kids are gone and grown, and we don’t have all that attention going to our kids and we’re more apt to reach out to our neighbors,” she said.

Gadola moved to Houston Springs from Warner Robins, and they knew their previous neighbors, but it was nothing like the atmosphere in their current neighborhood.

“When you drive in this neighborhood it’s like a requirement, everybody waves at everybody,” she said.

Gadola also shares people stop and talk to each other. She said she walks with a group of five women and shares sometimes it takes them three hours to walk three miles because they stop and talk.

She describes the Christmas parade as a fun activity and hopes it will bring everyone closer.

The Golf Cart Christmas Parade will start at 5:30 p.m. at the Quail Run Clubhouse. Houston Springs 55+ Lifestyle Community is located at 80 Fairway Oaks Drive in Perry. The parade is only for Houston Springs residents, and only people invited can attend it.