Led by Santa singing Christmas carols on a paddle board, Wellington’s seventh annual Holiday Boat Parade on Lake Wellington will “Light Up the Lake” on Saturday, Dec. 9.
“We start at the north end of the lake,” parade organizer Jack Brownson said, “and around 6:10 or 6:15 p.m., we’ll head toward the Wellington Community Center.”
From there, guests will have a front-seat view of the parade, featuring approximately 50 festive and decorated boats. Visible from the Town Center Promenade, guests are encouraged to bring their own seating.
Each year, more boats join the parade, which is sponsored by South Florida Marine, to cruise along Lake Wellington and bring joy to guests.
Seeing people’s reactions to the decorated boats, Brownson said, is one of the best parts about the parade.
“When we go around the promenade, everybody starts cheering,” he said. “It has actually become a pretty popular event for those who live on the lake because they have a lot of parties, and they cheer us on as we go around the lake.”
Returning to judge the competition and award trophies for the top three best-decorated boats will be Wellington Village Council members, local celebrities Jim Sackett and Roxanne Stein, and Assistant Community Events Director Michelle Garvey.
There will be food trucks from 6 to 8 p.m. offering food and drinks for purchase. Admission and parking are free.
The Wellington Community Center is located at 12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.
Potential boaters are encouraged to e-mail Brownson for more information about how to participate. All boats must be electric.
To get involved in the Wellington Holiday Boat Parade, or for more information, contact Jack Brownson at jbrownson@comcast.net.
