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I remember my first boat parade. I had just moved here from Vermont in 1989 as an investigative reporter for the Sun-Sentinel. After 14 years of living like a popsicle, all I wanted was heat and humidity. So of course, that December broke South Florida records for chilly temperatures. With several newspaper friends, I bundled up and watched the parade in amazement from the 17th Street Causeway bridge. I’d never seen anything like it. In later years, the temperature was more comfortable and I wore shorts as we staked out some prime spot in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea to enjoy the passing boats. Once I even got to ride in the parade. This annual event has always seemed to me the quintessential South Florida holiday tradition. It’s charming and funny and laidback and all the things that draw us to this part of the world. And on Saturday, it happens again.
This is the 35th edition, now called the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade. There’s a new theme: Broadway on the Waterway. So expect to catch more than one show tune and dancing girl. There will be about 100 watercraft of all shapes and sizes, from small power boats to yachts the size of nuclear subs, decked out with strings of holiday lights and other decorations. As usual, some displays will be elaborately designed. Some will be nothing more than a single string of multi-colored lights looped around the bow. But together, they make for a great show. The grand marshal is Frankie Valli, lead singer for the 1960s group, The Four Seasons.
If you go, get to one of the viewing areas early. The parade starts in Port Everglades at 6:30 and by then the 17th Street bridge will be locked open for two hours. Other bridges up the 10-mile route will shut down as the parade motors north to Pompano Beach. Organizers expect around 800,000 folks to watch this thing so you’ll be in a crowd. But everyone is usually in a very good mood and the whole deal just makes for a wonderful holiday treat. And it happens to fall on Hanukkah this year. Two festivals of lights, all in one luminous evening.
This is the 35th edition, now called the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade. There’s a new theme: Broadway on the Waterway. So expect to catch more than one show tune and dancing girl. There will be about 100 watercraft of all shapes and sizes, from small power boats to yachts the size of nuclear subs, decked out with strings of holiday lights and other decorations. As usual, some displays will be elaborately designed. Some will be nothing more than a single string of multi-colored lights looped around the bow. But together, they make for a great show. The grand marshal is Frankie Valli, lead singer for the 1960s group, The Four Seasons.
If you go, get to one of the viewing areas early. The parade starts in Port Everglades at 6:30 and by then the 17th Street bridge will be locked open for two hours. Other bridges up the 10-mile route will shut down as the parade motors north to Pompano Beach. Organizers expect around 800,000 folks to watch this thing so you’ll be in a crowd. But everyone is usually in a very good mood and the whole deal just makes for a wonderful holiday treat. And it happens to fall on Hanukkah this year. Two festivals of lights, all in one luminous evening.
posted by LauderBLOGGER at 12:37 PM
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