- April 25, 2024
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by: Sarah Ulis
At about 5 o’clock, it begins: a sedate drift of boats scattering lights across the water in Palm Coast’s Cimarron Basin. It is Dec. 18, 2021, the beginning of the Palm Coast Boat Parade. As twilight deepens the sky, more boaters begin to draw their boats into the gathering area, exchanging hearty greetings as they glide past one another in polite aquatic do-si-dos. Along the Intracoastal Waterway, even more boats have assembled.
At 6 o’clock, lights flashing, the sheriff’s boat sets forth and guides the parade out onto the Intracoastal Waterway.
A majestic line of decorated boats, cruisers and sail boats interspersed with canoes and kayaks begins its serene procession down a black velvet corridor of lights. Under a moon-bright sky, boat horns blast in response to tooting car horns and cheering from hundreds of fervent spectators lining the shore.
The parade, one of the community’s most highly anticipated events, is now in its 38th year. Four generations of Palm Coasters have enjoyed this unique annual celebration, now considered the largest boat parade in Central Florida.
The parade would not exist were it not for the enthusiastic participation of boaters from all over Palm Coast and neighboring communities, the numbers growing year after year. It all began in 1984 with a group of boaters who would soon form the Palm Coast Yacht Club. The second year, ITT made it a contest with a grand prize of a trip to Italy. But the club soon echewed that format and offered it as an event purely in the spirit of a happily non-competitive sharing of community holiday spirit.
The official parade has continued without interruption ever since, with the exception of 2013 when the parade was called “because of tornado” and held the following evening and during the 2020 pandemic when an informal group of boaters formed a small but enthusiastic ad-hoc parade for the benefit of on-lookers.
This year, as the world comes back together, the official parade will back in full force. Boaters and party organizers are already mobilizing. This year the parade hopes to attract not only the many boaters who populate Palm Coast, but also representatives from the city’s local clubs and service organizations participating with boats decorated to reflect their activities and missions. This year, the now-famous articulated “shark” may not be back, but something equally exciting is expected, as well as the ever-popular holiday tableaux and Santa Clauses bringing up the end of the parade in the tradition of the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade.
For the third year, Flagler Broadcasting is making plans for live coverage of the event, offering holiday music with vivid color commentary and descriptions of the boats accompanied by call-outs and live interviews with participants on the water and the shore. “The Queen of Jazz,” Linda Cole, will be on the air along with Flagler Broadcasting’s David Ayres and others. Grand marshalls on the lead boat are expected to be David Alfin, mayor of Palm Coast; and Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly.
Departing from the Cimmaron Basin, the parade will pass the Tidelands, Marina Cove, the Hammock, Yacht Harbor Village and the Palm Coast Legacy Vacation Resort. It will then proceed under the Hammock Dunes Bridge along St. Joe Walkway and Canopy Walk, pass by Island Estates, Waterfront Park and Grand Haven before dispersing at the Clubhouse Waterway. The parade will be escorted by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Tow Boat US, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Parking continues to be available near European Village for viewing along St. Joe Walkway, Canopy Walk and at Waterfront Park. This year, spectator parking will not be available at Waterfront Park due to an on-going city construction project to enhance water-based activities.
As always, participation in the parade is free, but registration is required, as well as attendance at a captains’ safety meeting the morning of the parade. For registration forms, contact Parade Capt. Robert Ulis at 386-283-5166 or at [email protected]. Forms and up-to-date details about the parade are also available at the Palm Coast Yacht Club website at www.palmcoastyachtclub.com and on Facebook. Rain date is Dec. 19.
The lights will be lit, the picnics and parties will be planned, and the moon will be at its zenith. What a fine night it will be.
