Details and how to enter can be found on Winterfest Foundation.

Past Jr. Parade Captains

2023: Ben Avalon representing Freedom Waters

2022: Luna Maria representing Forza Stefano Charitable Foundation

2021: Violet Martin representing Florida Youth Orchestra

2020: Dantonio Frazier Jr. representing Jack & Jill Children’s Center

2019: Emma Sorensen representing Make-A-Wish South Florida

2018: Thomas Boegler representing The Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital at Broward Health

2017: Grayson Zrelak representing Deliver The Dream

2016: Daniel Moreno representing the Ann Storck Center

2015: Madison Smith representing Cure SMA – Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 2

2014: Alex Casamento representing the Arthritis Foundation, Florida Chapter, SE Region. He was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) at the age of five and is one of 300,000 kids in the U.S. who suffers from this painful and incurable disease.

2013: Lauren Bendesky who was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma. Her fight and optimistic attitude is the reason “A Prom to Remember” nominated as their representative in the Parade. Lauren was aboard the Jr. Captain Showboat powered by FPL

2012: Sydney Lister diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma (Facebook winner with 927 votes).

2011: Five year old Martina Bello diagnosed with Leukemia sponsored by the James Jr. Fund.

2010: Alison Marchessault – Born with the Recessive form of Polycystic Kidney Disease, Alison Marchessault has spent so much of her life in hospitals. She is an extremely bright, beautiful and happy young woman. Starlight Children’s Foundation has been one of Alison’s favorite organizations over the years and she participated in the parade on the Florida Marlin’s Boat highlighted this charity.

2009: TheWinterfest^® Jr. Captain was created as a legacy of 15-year-old Amanda Blake who battled osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.