- December 14, 2025
With 46 boats registered this year, the 42nd annual Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade brought families and friends together Dec. 13, at Waterfront Park and under the Hammock Dunes Bridge to enjoy the lights on the water.
But after some years boasted over 100 boats in the water, this year — the first year that the event was run by the city instead of the Palm Coast Yacht Club — there were far fewer. Two people reported about 20 boats, another said 33. And so, while some praised the event and the city for keeping the tradition alive, others vented frustrations.
"Thank you to the spirited boaters," Lori Vetter Photography commented on the city's Facebook feed. "... We always enjoy this event but would like to see the boats spaced out more and moving slower and at an even pace. We saw one boat pass another — that was strange. We were happy to see there were more after the awkward gap."
Some called the event "lovely," others called it "unorganized."
Palm Tiki Adventures posted: "Apparently, there was a large gap that formed in front of us and many people thought the parade was over, including the official filming."
Meanwhile, city leaders praised staff for juggling logistics and making the event happen despite lack of involvement from the Yacht Club.
NO YACHT CLUB
While the Palm Coast Yacht Club had run the event for years, the organizers grew concerned with the increasing costs to run the parade in 2024. After unsuccessfully asking for special exceptions to the rising costs and paperwork, Sarah Ulis resigned as the Yacht Club's parade organizer in January 2025, saying the city had taken "the fun out of it." At the time, Mayor Mike Norris said the event had "grown beyond the Yacht Club. … They couldn’t handle it anymore."
In a phone interview the day after this year's parade, Dec. 14, Norris said that under the city's leadership, this year the event featured food trucks for the first time. Norris, new City Manager Mike McGlothlin and Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Chief of Staff Mark Strobridge, rode on the lead boat, piloted by Gary Kunnas, of Palm Coast.
"So the new city manager got to see the city from the water at night, so that's a great way to welcome him to the community," Norris said. He added: "It seemed like there was a large crowd."
Regarding the smaller number of boats, Norris said: "We had over 45 boats sign up, but they didn't all show up. I don't know if that was in protest or not. ... If someone's feelings are hurt, I can't do anything about that."
An email to the city in October, he said, requested that the Yacht Club membership not be included in the city's communications about the parade.
Overall, Norris said, "I think the city staff did a great job. It will grow again."
Norris said he also bought, with his personal funds, commemorative T-shirts for the boat captains.
Palm Coast Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri watched the parade from Waterfront Park and was happy to see a large crowd. Considering the logistics of running a parade, she said, "I appreciate the city keeping it going. But, there’s always room for improvement, and I definitely look forward to sitting down with the team and seeing how it can be done better. ... Naturally, there are going to be some glitches. But I think the boats were beautiful."
To help improve the event, Pontieri added, "I’d like to get the Yacht Club back involved. ... As far as how the city got the reins, I'm unclear on that, to be frank." She suggested that there could be "a happy medium to make sure we can have the best boat parade we can, and still be fair to all the organizations that do events."
BRING BACK THE YACHT CLUB?
Bill Verhagen is a senior partner at Innovative Financial Solutions, which has an office at the Creekside at Grand Haven business complex, near the entrance to Waterfront Park. He said his parking lot typically sells spaces before the event and raises about $1,000 per year for local charities. But, he said, the entrance was blocked by a deputy from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, so the fundraising was cut from about 85 cars to 13.
"The City either needs to turn this event back to the Yacht Club or do a much better job next year," Verhagen wrote in an email to the Observer. "What was a highlight of the season was simply disappointing this year. Cheers to the few boats that did decorate and participate in this event. Their enthusiasm and joy were much appreciated."
CELEBRATION OF THE WATERWAYS
Brittany Kershaw, the city’s director of communications, praised the businesses at European Village for helping to coordinate the gathering under the bridge. She also said Brittany McDermott, the city's deputy director of Parks and Recreation, helped make the event happen.
“I love the boat parade,” Kershaw said. “It’s a unique way to come together and celebrate the holidays.”
She noted that the parking has often been a struggle in years past, even with the shuttle service (provided by Palm Coast Ford and Flagler County Transportation).
“I don’t like that it’s not easy to get to,” Kershaw said, “but I like that people take that journey anyway, which shows it’s got a lot of community support.”
Lauren Johnston, who has been acting city manager since March 2024, watches the parade each year on her own boat, anchored in the Intracoastal Waterway.
“When you think about people moving to Palm Coast, they moved here for nature, our waterways,” Johnston said, “and this highlights that. … I love the boat parade."
