EAST MANATEE -- It’s not easy to produce a reaction of awe in Horseshoe Cove RV Resort residents when it comes to golf carts decorated for Christmas.
After all, these residents wrote the book on it after a dozen years of hosting the Horseshoe Cove Christmas Cart Parade.
But residents Gary and Janice Mast of Muskegon, Mich., produced that very reaction in their colleagues Sunday when they unveiled their 11-foot, 3-inch tall, 10-foot in diameter Christmas tree golf cart during the 2010 parade at Horseshoe Cove.
“The Christmas tree stole the party,” said former Cove wagon master Wilbur Dunn, who helped out as Santa this year.
With 1,200 lights and 400 feet of garland, the Masts’ creation required two golf-cart batteries to get it to run and shine.
The Masts were well-camouflaged under the tree by the lights, giving the impression that the tree was simply rolling along the byways of Horseshoe Cove.
“The Christmas tree!” shouted Sid Veremey, 7, along with his sister, Jayden, 4, when asked what was their favorite Christmas cart float this year.
The tree was designed by the Masts and their son, Troy, who is a physics and chemistry teacher.
“I kept having to run out and buy more garland to cover it,” Gary Mast said.
Although the Masts’ tree may have stolen the show, there were 46 other crowd-pleasers as well, including the Christmas train, the gingerbread house, the stagecoach and the Grinch.
Last year there were 55 carts, an all-time record.
“We had some people out with the flu this year,” said 2010 Wagon Master Al Hager.
The carts wound their way through the community on Caruso Road starting at 6 p.m. “It’s wonderful,” said retired attorney Ron Wilson from Michigan, who watched the parade with his bride of 51 years, Joan. “You think about all the workshop time that goes into it.”
Gene Gelinas, who usually plays Elvis for the event, had hip replacement surgery and sat this Christmas parade on the sidelines. But he promises to be back next year.
Horseshoe Cove will take its parade on the road beginning at 6 p.m. today at neighboring Pleasant Lake mobile home park.
The parade will travel to Westwinds Mobile Home Park at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
