LUTZ — With red, white and blue everywhere, the annual Lutz Independence Day Parade and festivals celebrated America’s 250th birthday July 4, capped off with the announcement of the newly appointed Lutz Guv’na.
Dozens of floats of local businesses, Boy and Girl Scout troops and youth sports teams came down Lutz Lake Fern Road, throwing out beads and other goodies — even with some other floats passing out bottled water and splashing the hundreds of locals who attended with water guns.
Other activities included the annual 5K and 1-mile fun run early in the morning, local vendors and businesses giving away prizes and the cake raffle, which raises money for local charities. The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, affectionately known as “The Green Shirts,” organizes the event, parade and auctions.
After the parade at the historic Train Depot in front of the Lutz Branch Library, the proclamation and swearing-in of the Lutz Guv’na is held, which is an unofficial “government position” awarded to the Lutz resident, usually a business owner, who raises the most money for local charities during “campaign season.”
Brigitte Shaw, owner of SouthernEaze Bar and Grill at Livingston Avenue and Sunset Lane, was named the 2026 Lutz Guv’na.