Winterfest Boat Parade
One of the coolest things about South Florida happens at the end of the year: The Winterfest Boat Parade. Yachts owned by big shots of the corporate and private kind get decorated with lights, then parade down the Intracoastal Waterway for several miles while throngs -- hordes -- masses of people crowd along the route to see how the other 2% party for the holidays. That's because almost every boat is a floating party with music playing and people dancing.
The biggest, baddest, most-decorated yacht is usually the main sponsor, which for the past several years has been the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. And every year, the parade people hire a celebrity to be the grand marshal, who rides on the sponsor's yacht and greets the people watching along the sides of the Intracoastal. This year, it's Jim Belushi.
Once in college, I staked out a spot hours in advance under a bridge with friends so we could watch the parade from there. Another time, I had out-of-state family in town and got tickets to watch the parade from a state park that had a viewing area near the water. Last year, my husband's office party was at a hotel along the route where we watched the boats go by from an upper terrace.
My husband has relatives who were once invited to join the party aboard one of the yachts, and they said it was actually boring. The boats have to line up in advance, make their way down the parade route and back again, and the relatives said it was one loooooong party where everyone just got drunk.
Nothing like being stuck on a boat for hours with drunk strangers, eh?
That wouldn't be a problem, though, if my husband and I entered our boat (unfortunately not this boat) into the parade.
With some rope lights, a mini Christmas tree and iPod speakers, I think we could give those yachts a run for their money. We could fasten glow-in-the-dark rave bracelets to the paddles. I think the crowds would root for the underdog.
So, what do you think?
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
The biggest, baddest, most-decorated yacht is usually the main sponsor, which for the past several years has been the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. And every year, the parade people hire a celebrity to be the grand marshal, who rides on the sponsor's yacht and greets the people watching along the sides of the Intracoastal. This year, it's Jim Belushi.
Once in college, I staked out a spot hours in advance under a bridge with friends so we could watch the parade from there. Another time, I had out-of-state family in town and got tickets to watch the parade from a state park that had a viewing area near the water. Last year, my husband's office party was at a hotel along the route where we watched the boats go by from an upper terrace.
My husband has relatives who were once invited to join the party aboard one of the yachts, and they said it was actually boring. The boats have to line up in advance, make their way down the parade route and back again, and the relatives said it was one loooooong party where everyone just got drunk.
Nothing like being stuck on a boat for hours with drunk strangers, eh?
That wouldn't be a problem, though, if my husband and I entered our boat (unfortunately not this boat) into the parade.
With some rope lights, a mini Christmas tree and iPod speakers, I think we could give those yachts a run for their money. We could fasten glow-in-the-dark rave bracelets to the paddles. I think the crowds would root for the underdog.
So, what do you think?
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
Labels: boating, Hollydays, Latitude 26, the mom crazies
posted by Holly at 7:02 AM
13 Comments:
I think you should go for it!! We have a boat parade here, too. It's not quite as fancy as yours, I imagine, but still a pretty impressive sight. We're actually going to a party at a friend's house who lives on the water for the occasion.
Btw - It's snowing like crazy here today!
hahaha I think the glow-in-the-dark rave bracelets would totally put you in the running! hehe
What a neat parade!
psst we are expecting a huge snow storm here tonight ... 25-30 cm ... ummmmm ... 10-12 inches (I think)
What a wonderful idea for a parade. :) We do an electric light parade every year too but ours are just floats pulled by trucks. But it's so much to see all the brightly lit up and decorated entries.
I think your boat would have a chance Id vote for you!
Oh my gosh that looks like so much fun!! I would love that! I think your boat would crush the competition!
We used to have a boat parade up here too, I need to find out if they still do it. I bet the one down your way is awesome!
Seriously, that looks like all types of fun to me given our sucking climate and cold weather!
I would TOTALLY vote for you. :)
DO IT! DO IT! That looks like a whole lot of fun! I would love to see the boat parade some day.
Oh yeah. You should do it. I love watching the boat parades...even if boaters here are completely obnoxious sounding their tinny horns to get you to look at their float. Umm, yeah. I'm standing on a river bank at night staring out in the water, do you really think I don't see you?
Sounds like a blast.
I'd totally cheer you on. Especially for the rave bracelets. Far more creative than those fancy-schmancy lights ;)
And then, to top it all off, you should run under the red flag, the 'Jolie Rouge', the original pirate flag, which later became black and the name became Jolly Roger. Because some people will get it.
I just came across your page, if you're still interested in watching the parade from your kayak, check out::
http://www.meetup.com/kayaking-130/events/14252589/
Also, i've got a lil write-up on kayaking the parade::
http://kayakfari.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/kayaking-a-parade-of-lights-winterfest-boat-parade/
Cheers! :)
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