F.A.A. pulls plug on skydiving show over Bryant Park at LWB Veterans Day event Saturday
Veterans Day celebration will still go on, followed by NAPC Fall Festival; Mayor to lead "Lights Across the Bridge" procession Nov. 11
The Federal Aviation Administration has pulled the plug on a skydiving performance at the Lake Worth Beach Veterans Day celebration Saturday in Bryant Park, a city spokesperson said this morning.
The All Veteran Group parachute team has “not been issued a clearance to jump from the F.A.A. due to the government shutdown,’’ the spokesperson said, citing information shared with the city by AVG’s chief of operations.
Five parachuters had planned to skydive into the park just after 3 p.m. at the end of the event, holding an American flag with smoke trailing from their feet.
The city, which had been promoting the skydiving show for the past several weeks, will try to reschedule the jump for another event.
The rest of the Veterans Day festivities will go on, starting at 2 p.m.
Army Major Andres Grisales of Lake Worth Beach is keynote speaker. Other speakers include American Legion Commander Joseph Melcher, Mayor Betty Resch and Palm Beach County commissioners Gregg Weiss and Joel Flores.
Dreyfoos School of the Arts senior Brianna Sequeira will sing the national anthem and the Lake Worth High School band will play military branch.
The skydiving show would have taken place after Grisales’ speech, with the parachuters jumping from an aircraft at roughly 8,000-10,000 feet and free falling with smoke grenades attached to their feet.
The jumpers had planned to land in rapid succession one behind the other in the grassy area between the bandshell and Lake Avenue.
Representatives with All Veterans Group did not return calls and emails seeking comment.
The Lake Worth Beach Fall Festival, hosted by the Neighborhood Association Presidents’ Council, will kick off in Bryant Park immediately following the parachute performance.
The family event, which ends at 7 p.m., will feature disc golf, cornhole, bounce houses, live music and a decorated golf cart contest. Proceeds from the sales of raffle tickets, a silent auction, hot dogs and soda will benefit local schools.
Three days later, the mayor will host another Veterans Day event at sunset on Nov. 11 when she leads a procession of light-holding marchers up the Lake Worth Beach Bridge.
Participants in the “Lights Across the Bridge” procession will hold flashlights and colored gels, creating a red, white and blue glow that’s reflected in the water.
Anyone is welcome to join. Participants will meet at the Bryant Park bandshell at 5 p.m. Sunset is just after 5:30 p.m. The event ends at 7 p.m.
(This is a developing story. Check back for updates.)
Keep scrolling to see flyers for the three events, two on Nov. 8, one on Nov. 11:
