DAYTONA BEACH When thousands of Jeep vehicles and the people who love them roll into Volusia County for the annual Jeep Beach celebration this week, it marks another welcome sign of optimism for the area’s tourism industry, hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic over the past year.
Hoteliers anticipate sold-out rooms over much of the event, which shifts into high gear on Monday and runs through Sunday, April 25. Likewise, restaurant managers and other tourist-related businesses also are expecting the Jeep fans to boost sales.
The beachside Hard Rock Hotel, the event’s headquarters hotel, will be Ground Zero for many of the week’s activities. The list includes “Jeeps At the Rock,” two days of beach activities on Wednesday and Thursday that feature a surf school, games, vendors, prize raffles, drink specials and a pool party.
The University of Louisville spirit squads shone brightly at the 2021 NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer & Dance National Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida, with the Cardinals taking home two national championships. Louisville's All-Girl team took top honors with its seventh consecutive national title, holding off Oklahoma State and Iowa State for the crown. The All-Girl squad has now won in 17 National Cheer Association championships - 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 (no 2020 competition) and 2021. Small Co-Ed also earned its 11th title at the competition. Louisville has taken top honors in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 (no 2020 competition), 2021. UofL was also third in the Large Co-Ed category; second in the Dance Team Performance (Ladybirds); second in the Dance Team Hip Hop competition (Ladybirds); and fourth in the Group Stunt competition.
DAYTONA BEACH On the sidewalks, in the hotels, restaurants and grocery stores, the cheerleaders are seemingly everywhere this week at the World’s Most Famous Beach.
Thousands of students on cheerleading teams and dance units representing roughly 140 colleges and universities nationwide are in Daytona Beach to compete in the College Cheer and Dance National Championship sponsored by the National Cheerleaders Association and the National Dance Alliance.
The five-day event runs through Sunday at the Daytona Beach Bandshell and the Ocean Center.
It’s a milestone edition of the long-running competition, which is marking both the 40th anniversary of the event itself and its 25th year in Daytona Beach.