A river of lights: the 30th-annual holiday boat parade

The Palm Coast Yacht Club hosted its 30th-annual Holiday Boat Parade on the Intracoastal Waterway on Saturday, Dec. 5.

By Anastasia Pagello
| 1:41 p.m. December 6, 2015

The Grand Marshal led 22 boats though a series of canals and down the Intracoastal Waterway on Saturday, Dec. 6. Photos by Anastasia Pagello

The inflatable Santa Claus waved jollily to all from the bow of the yacht.

Member of the Palm Coast Yacht Club Sarah Ulis coordinated the 30th-annual Holiday Boat Parade.

Former Palm Coast Yacht Club member Bruce Douglas stands on lookout at the bow of the Grand Marshal.

Captain Robert Ulis, John Hildbrandt and Bruce Douglas navigate the Grand Marshal down the Intracoastal Waterway.

Carolyn Colloway, Sharil Hildebrandt, Linda Humphrey and Candy Schmidt

The Grand Marshal was lavishly decorated for the 30th-annual Holiday Boat parade.

Priscilla Netts, Mayor Jon Netts, Cornelia Manfre and Sheriff Jim Manfre

This year 23 boats participated in the Palm Coast Yacht Club's Holiday Boat Parade.

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“Palm Coast residents come together and really make this event a success.” - Sarah Ulis, Holiday Boat Parade Event Coordinator

As the parade of boats passed, lights flashed out of the darkness from docks and along the banks of the Intracoastal Waterway, to signify the presence of those gathered to watch the beautiful display.

“Merry Christmas!” Shouted Cornelia Manfre, who projected her voice across the water, to those watching from the shore.

Despite a steady drizzle of rain throughout the day, the Palm Coast Yacht Club’s 30th-annual Holiday Boat Parade went on as planned, Saturday, Dec. 5.

The boats gathered at Cimmaron Basin before heading east on the Intracoastal Waterway.

“The weather this year is nothing compared to past years,” Palm Coast Yacht Club member Candyce Schmidt said. “There was one parade, a few years ago, the visibility was so bad we couldn’t see the shoreline. Many of the boats got lost in the haze, ending up in various places. It was like trying to herd cats.”

Lit-up with dazzling Christmas lights and inflatable Santa Claus’s, 23 boats made their way down the Intracoastal starting from Cimmaron Basin in Palm Coast. The route took the procession south past Tidelands, Canopy Walk, St. Joe Walkway, Waterfront Park and Island Estates, before making its way back to Clubhouse Waterway.

“Every year people take the opportunity to host parties from their docks and marvel as the parade goes by,” Event Coordinator Sarah Ulis said. “Palm Coast residents come

together and really make this event a success.”