2006 Christmas Boat Parade!

 

A lighted boat parade in celebration of the holiday season

 

December 16, 2006

 

Jack Willie’s Tarpon Turtle hosted the parade event with a boat decorating contest with great prizes from area businesses.  This year the restaurant is in full operation along with live entertainment!

 

The decorating contest selected winners for the following five categories:

 

  1. Tiny Traveler (smallest decorated vessel – best decoration will be tie breaker)
  2. Theatrically Themed (find your focus with Florida, unicorns, pirates – whatever!)
  3. Lightest and Brightest (most lights – spotlights in judges eyes don’t count!)
  4. Party Barge (loudest, wackiest group you can safely fit on a vessel)
  5. Crowd Pleaser (the one that makes judges go “ooohhh, aaahhh”)

 

After the a viewing for the judges everyone toured the lake to show off all the skilled splendor for each other and the lakefront land lovers.  Then after the parade, the prize ceremony was held.  See the pictures below for some of the very imaginative decorations. 

 

Prizes for the contests were provided by generous area businesses.  Winners received a decorative flag for their vessel to show off ‘til next year!

 

Many thanks to Don and his great staff for organizing this special event!

 

The completed "Turtle" has a new grandeur about it...

 

 

Quite a difference from the old Turtle!

 

 

Ready for sunset so we can get started!

 

 

In addition to the lights, there were some great costumes!

 

 

Here's a boat complete with a Christmas tree and a Tarpon Turtle!

 

 

Here's Mr. Turtle, all aglow!

 

 

Here's a Tarpon gator pulling Santa's Sleigh!

 

 

Rudolph was found lounging on this fun boat!

 

 

Santa caught some great fish!

 

 

The "Crowd Pleaser" winner with dueling Dolphins!

 

 

Starlight, Starbright...

 

 

Walls of lights set the decor for what later turned out to be the Party Barge winner!

 

 

Not sure where the turtle is?  Here's a map.

 

And the winners are:

 

  1. Tiny Traveler: Gale Warning (or is it Gail Warning?) at 19', just under two 20' contenders
  2. Theatrically Themed: Frosty
  3. Lightest and Brightest: Viga Now Now
  4. Party Barge: Chuck and Carol
  5. Crowd Pleaser: Dueling Dolphins

 

 

Watch this site for next year's Christmas Parade announcement!

 

12/17/06