Christmas Boat Parade Lights Up Waterways

Gene Burson, who coordinated the 2022 Christmas Island Style Holiday Boat Parade, could not have wished for, or received better weather for the Christmas Island Style Boat Parade than what he received last Saturday evening. The tides, the weather and the turnout of boats were just spectacular.

Participants as well as observers were in for a wonderful evening as 25 magnificently decorated craft cruised up and down the canals as well as the Marco River providing spectators and participants with a wonderful evening under the stars from which to enjoy a great evening of enjoyment.

From the start of the event which saw the Holiday Mariners cruise by the Judge Jolley Bridge, past the Marco Island Yacht Club, the Rose Marina, the docks along Pier 81 and by the Riverside Club and the temporarily closed Historic Snook Inn, boaters could be seen and heard thoroughly enjoying themselves along the parade route.

Marco P.D.’s marine units would lead the parade followed by the Marco Island Princess working its way along through Collier Creek into Collier Bay then making a turn down the canal leading into Smokehouse Bay. A sharp turn to the north brought them past enthusiastic crowds lining the shore dotted with condominiums, past the festively lit Esplanade which was packed with excited onlookers and back out into Collier Bay past numerous anchored vessels shouting their appreciation for the hard work it took to decorate the beautifully lit vessels.

The parade continued around Smokehouse Bay and into the back of Collier Bay. It then went back out the route they came from Collier Creek and down along the Marco River before turning across to our neighbors on Isles of Capri and dispersing for the evening.

The judges obviously had their work cut out for them as it would be a difficult task to choose winners in each of the categories. Visit the Christmas Island style web site at www.christmasislandstyle.com for more pictures if you don’t see your favorites here.