Saturday, November 14, 2026
The holiday-spirited couple who organized the Marco River Christmas Boat Parade is Peggy and Pete Frazier, aboard the Grand Pelican.
As part of its Christmas Boat Parade viewing party, the Marco Island Yacht Club raffled off a club membership that raised $3,200 for the Marco Patriots. With Santa are, from left: Angela Holt, event chair; Dave Everitt, Yacht Club Chairman; Erin Mia Milchman and Matthew Melican of the Marco Patriots; and, Kathy Caruso, membership co-chair for the Yacht Club.
Santa Claus was a special guest on the Grand Pelican as it participated in the Marco River Christmas Boat Parade.
Among the colorfully decorated boats participating in the Marco River Christmas Boat Parade were (front to back): Bodacious (skippered by Billy Glenda); R. Wellington (Rich Granville); and Lady B (Jeff Comeaux).
The Marco Island Princess leads the Christmas Boat Parade as it passes by the Marco Island Yacht Club. Submitted Photos
Although the traditional Marco Island Christmas boat parade was cancelled due to hazards on the route, a group of holiday-spirited boaters joined together to stage a Marco River-only boat parade recently. The group was headed by Peggy and Pete Frazier, longtime participants in the annual boat parade with their trawler the Grand Pelican.
The festively decorated boats gathered at the Jolley Bridge at 6 PM and the Marco Princess led the parade as it passed by the Marco Island Yacht Club, proceeded west through Factory Bay, past Pier 81 and then the Snook Inn to Hideaway Beach. The parade then crossed over to the Isles of Capri along the river and then returned to the Yacht Club at 7:30 PM.
Among the boats participating were the Marco Princess, Bodacious, Lady B, James Blonde 001, R. Wellington, Grand Pelican and the Marco Island Fire Rescue boat and the Police Department marine unit.
Santa Claus rode on the Grand Pelican and shouted “Ho-Ho-Ho” to the hundreds of spectators along the route. He then went ashore and greeted the over 200 people that had assembled at the Marco Island Yacht Club to dine and view the boat parade. The Yacht Club also held a raffle to win a Yacht Club Membership and the $3,200 in proceeds was donated to the Marco Patriots.
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