“A Champion’s Christmas Parade” and community pep rally celebrate Gulfport state champion football and powerlifting teams

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV) — A beloved Gulfport Christmas parade turned into a championship celebration on Monday, as “A Champions Christmas Parade” rolled through downtown.

The annual Sugar Plum Parade was transformed into a parade honoring the Gulfport Admirals football team and its state championship win over Tupelo.

The Admirals led the parade on the ground and were followed by other school teams, local businesses and city officials.

A pep rally at the end of the route honored the newly-crowned champions, as well as the Gulfport boys and girls powerlifting teams. Both groups won their own state championships back in the spring.

Several members of both teams told WXXV just how much they loved the community support.