- December 9, 2024
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Now preparing for its 41st year, the Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade will be held on Sunday, Dec. 15. The Parade, which is sponsored by the Palm Coast Yacht Club, has been the largest lit boat parade in Florida and the third largest in the country, according to a press release.
The Parade will begin at 6 p.m. at the Cochise Waterway and head south to the Grand Haven gazebo where it will turn and boats will return to their home ports.
The city of Palm Coast is providing viewers free shuttle service between the Palm Coast Community Center, the Daytona State College parking lot and the European Village. Buses will run from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Boats in the parade will be accompanied by the Marine Unit of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Service and TowBoatUS.
Continuing its tradition of recognizing individuals for outstanding service to the community, the 2024 parade will be held in honor of Sheriff’s Office Dispatcher Megan Burton, who will also serve as a grand marshal. Burton has been named Florida Sheriff Association Dispatcher of the Year.
“Reel Freedom,” a 46-foot Ocean Yacht Sportfish, will serve as the parade’s lead boat. The vessel is owned and captained by Palm Coast resident Justin Wilmot and will carry the grand marshals including Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly and Randy Stapleford, commissioner of the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND).
FIND is providing a major grant to the parade to support advertising, said Sarah Ulis, the parade's chairperson. For the sixth year, the event will be broadcast live by Flagler Broadcasting on KOOL-FM, 100.9. The Palm Coast Marina is the sponsor for the live broadcast.