FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - The countdown to this year’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Winterfest Boat Parade is officially on.
The annual celebration gives South Florida a chance to show off some holiday spirit while also benefiting its community.
Hailed as “The Best Show on H20,” dozens of boaters are expected to take part, with many putting the finishing touches on their vessels Thursday.
“I’ve been waiting for this all year long. It’s like Christmas, but it’s Winterfest,” said Winterfest President and CEO Lisa Scott-Founds.
In an unexpected turn of events, last year’s event was canceled due to the weather, making it the most anticipated event this holiday season.
“It’s going to be amazing. I’m just really super excited, as you know, because actually canceling a parade and knowing that the weather is going to be perfect for everybody. We’re all hyper,” said Winterfest President and CEO Lisa Scott-Founds.
Scott-Founds said this year’s parade on the water promises to be the biggest and best ever.
“We have got more boats than we’ve ever had, I think because everybody was really missing the boat parade last year, and they want to be a part of something big, and this is a tradition that has been going on for 53 years,” she said.
This year’s theme is “From Sawgrass to Seagrass: Waves of Holiday Cheer.”
“You know what’s so amazing? That we’ve got the coolest theme this year, ‘From Sawgrass to Seagrass,’ and it really is reflective of what Broward County has to offer, and here we are near the beach, near the sawgrass, and it is just going to be so amazing,” Scott-Founds said.
The one-of-a-kind parade showcases a display of beautifully decorated boats of all sizes along a 12-mile route.
“We’re starting the boat parade off with a massive alligator from Alligator Ron and the Bergeron Everglades Foundation,” Scott-Founds said, “so it’s going to be so incredible with the fireworks coming out that are biodegradable and environmentally friendly, of course.”
The event aims to showcase the beauty of Florida — from the Everglades to the beaches.
“Winterfest, here we are, the Venice of the Americas, the boating capital of the world, and we have a parade on water, and it’s the only of this magnitude, that has a million people lining the shores,” Scott-Founds said.
The Dunn family were finishing up their “Charlie Brown Christmas”-themed display, complete with a doghouse and Snoopy himself, when they talked to 7News.
“I’m going to be Snoopy, and my brother is going to be the bird Woodstock, and we’re going to go out, and we’re going to have so much fun,” said Amelia Dunn.
“It’s my second year on the boat, and it’s really fun doing it with my family,” said Carter Dunn.
“We’ve been in the boat parade for about five or six years, and this is the second year with the kids being on the boat and helping decorate,” said Kristin Dunn. “It’s now a whole family affair, and they enjoy helping us decorate and putting the lights up.”
The boat parade goes down Saturday along the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Live performances and special appearances are set to happen throughout the night.
There will be photo opportunities with Santa Claus, Stanley from the Florida Panthers and more.
“It’s going to be amazing, from beginning to all the way to the end, because at the beginning we got Stanley C. Panther and Viktor E. Rat, our Stanley Cup winner mascots. And Jack Wagner, of course. Everybody knows Jack, and we’re excited to host him. And then Santa Claus on the Amazon showboat,” Scott-Founds said.
The show begins at 6:30 p.m.
Drivers should be advised that there will be bridge closures along the parade route. For more information, click here.
“The waterways close down. The New River is closed down starting at 2:30 p.m. The Intracoastal starts getting shut down about 4:20, and 5:20 for basically everything north of Oakland Park to our turnaround buoy on Pompano Beach,” said Winterfest Boat Parade Chair Britt Lanier, “so come out early, get your spot, get anchored and get ready to have a great time.”
For tickets and more information about Saturday’s Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, click here.
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