- April 24, 2024
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Captain James Spooner drives a Stars Wars-themed boat as others follow in line. Photo by Paige Wilson
Event organizer Sarah Ulis, Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland, boat captain Robert Ulis, Debbie Staly and Sheriff Rick Staly. Photo by Paige Wilson
Captain Ken Mazzei drives “Southerly,” which is decorated with reindeer and shooting stars. Photo by Paige Wilson
Palm Coast residents Linda Humphrey and Dorothy and Jeremy Schilling sit on the lead boat. Photo by Paige Wilson
Captain Richard Oxmann drives a 27-foot sailing vessel with a snowman on top of the bimini. Photo by Paige Wilson
Decorated docs line the Intracoastal with spectators. Photo by Paige Wilson
Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland waves to parade-watchers on the shore from aboard the lead boat. Photo by Paige Wilson
Captain Justin Biss drives a 20-foot pontoon boat decorated as a shark. Photo by Paige Wilson
Sarah and Robert Ulis, the event organizers, head out to lead the boat parade. Photo by Paige Wilson
Captain Jeremy Mayer drives the Reel Therapy 4 Heroes boat that's patriotically decorated. The nonprofit works with veterans. Photo by Paige Wilson
Debbie Staly and Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly wave to spectators from aboard the lead boat. Photo by Paige Wilson
The passengers of the lead boat in the parade pose for a photo before leaving the dock. Photo by Paige Wilson
Boats get ready to join in the parade line. Photo by Paige Wilson
Well-lit boats drive in the parade. Photo by Paige Wilson
A participant in the 2018 Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade. Photo by Paige Wilson
With one boat coming as far as Hilton Head, South Carolina, to participate in the Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade, event organizer Sarah Ulis said she was pleased with this year's growth.
"This year, we saw a lot of new boaters, people who have never been in the parade," Ulis said. "Almost half of them were brand new and had never been in the parade before."
The 36th-annual parade was held on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 15. Hundreds of spectators lined homes along the Instacoastal Waterway, many under decorated docks, to watch a line of 47 well-lit boats parade by.
"It is such a thrill to be part of it. It's unbelievable," Ulis said. "I feel like it's Palm Coast giving itself a big hug."
As the grand marshals, Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland and Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly rode on the lead boat in the parade, driven by Captain Robert Ulis.
"I feel like it's Palm Coast giving itself a big hug."
- SARAH ULIS, event organizer
The largest number of boats participated this year, Sarah Ulis said. Last year, there were 40 boats. She hopes to increase the publicity out of Central Florida even more next year to encourage boaters from North and South Florida to participate in the seasonal fun.
"We have an advantage here because the Instracoastal is fairly narrow and it's not out in the Atlantic and it's not in a big bay, so it's easy to see from the shore and makes it a more intimate event," she said. "And, what Flagler Broadcasting did brought a new dynamic to the parade and extended it beyond just watching the boat parade, to have the commentary, which they did a beautiful job with."
New to this year was a live broadcast with KOOL 100.9 FM. The anchors were Flagler Broadcasting's "Doctor Dave;" former Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts; Ansley Cestare, of Flagler-Palm Coast High School's TV Production program; and Donella Crawford, representing the Palm Coast Yacht Club, which was the presenter of the parade.
"I think it was great to have an opportunity to be with other people who have experience being on the radio," said Cestare, who has been interning with KOOL 100.9 FM for a few weeks. "It was great to be able to communicate with them, laugh with them and talk to other people around there nonstop for a whole hour."
Cestare noted that the announcing the parade was very different than quick news shows with FPC-TV, but she enjoyed the change.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see her on the Today Show one day," Sarah Ulis said about Cestare.
