- July 14, 2025
Vanessa Arredondo-Alamilla, Olivia DeCruz, Tianna Leadon (behind the fence), Abby Perez and coaches Lauren Albert and Ashlyn Wilkerson at the parade venue. Courtesy photo
Olivia DeCruz and Abby Perez with the Macy's Great American Marching Band. Courtesy photo
Tianna Leadon danced with the Spirit of America Dancers. Courtesy photo
Coach Ashlyn Wilkerson, Vanessa Arredondo-Alamilla, Olivia DeCruz, Abby Perez and coach Lauren Albert at the Top of the Rock — the observatory on top of Rockefeller Center in New York. Courtesy photo
Olivia DeCruz and Abby Perez during early morning rehearsal on the day of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Courtesy photo
Meeting up on sightseeing day: Vanessa Arredondo-Alamilla, Abby Perez, coach Lauren Albert, Tianna Leadon, coach Ashlyn Wilkerson and Olivia DeCruz. Courtesy photo
Vanessa Arredondo-Alamilla is waiting to step off on the morning of the parade. Courtesy photo
Four Flagler Palm Coast High School Starlets participated in the 96th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Thursday, Nov. 24.
Vanessa Arredondo-Alamilla was selected to perform with the colorguard as a member of the Macy's Great American Marching Band, while Abby Perez and Olivia DeCruz were selected to perform as dancers with the Macy's Great American Marching Band. Tianna Leadon was selected to be a dancer with the Spirit of America Dancers.
Arredondo-Alamilla, Perez and Leadon are captain's of FPC's Starlets team.
"All four traveled to New York City for the week to learn choreography and sightsee while creating memories for a lifetime," said Lauren Albert, the Starlets' head coach.
Albert and JV coach Ashlyn Wilkerson accompanied the three Starlets who performed with the Macy's Great American Marching Band.
The four students and their two coaches were able to sightsee while they were in New York. They went up to the Top of the Rock — the observatory deck at Rockefeller Center — and saw "Aladdin" and "Michael Jackson the Musical" on Broadway.
This was Albert's second year serving as a chaperone at the parade. She accompanied Starlet Kayla Idzior in 2019. In 2018, Starlet Alyssa Santore performed in the parade. This was the first year that four Flagler Palm Coast Starlets performed at the parade.
"These girls raised most of the fee to attend by working jobs over the summer and during the school year while also juggling school and practice hours," Albert said. "We are super proud of them and how well they represented FPC, but also their team."
