Lighted Holiday Boat Parade...Southern Style!

Jim and Peggy picked us up at 4:00, and we set out for the Savannah Yacht Club and the lighted boat parade. If you’ve never been to a holiday lighted boat parade, seek one out and go. The inner harbor parade is the first Sat. in Dec., followed by the Annapolis parade the second Sat. You can usually see them from shore, or from the windows of a restaurant. People come up with such great ideas for themes and decorations. I’m always amazed at the time and effort that are put into some of the boats.

We met our hosts, Tim and Judy, and boarded their boat, a 34’ Mainship Trawler, almost identical to ours! They have been in the parade for a number of years, and had the boat beautifully decorated. We also met Mandy and Cam and Sue and Keith, the other guests on board for the parade. Scott enjoyed talking with Tim, and exchanging similarities and differences between our two boats. After some drinks, some chatting amongst the other parade boats, and some appetizers, it was time to start the motor. We moved into our place in line and headed for the judges booth.

Prizes are usually given for most lights, best theme and such. As we got close to the judges booth, Judy told some of us who were sitting up front on the bow to grab the lighted candy canes and wave them. It’s Judy and Tim’s tradition during the parade. We waved, and waved, and then waved some more. Once past the judges’ booth, we did a loop through the town of Thunderbolt. We waved our candy canes again and then headed back to the yacht club.

There was a post parade party at one of the yacht club’s buildings. They had a great seafood buffet waiting for us out on the porch. We loaded up on the great fried shrimp and stuffed flounder, and chatted about the evening. Tim and Judy’s boat, “Wait For Me” won a prize, and then Jim and Peggy found us for the ride home. We said goodbye to everyone we’d met. They were all extremely friendly and welcoming to us, and told us to come back when we head north on our way home.

Back at the marina, we said goodbye to our new friends, Jim and Peggy. A BIG THANK YOU to then for showing us such a terrific few days!! They are a big reason that Savannah is now one of our favorite towns! We hope to make a stop again on the way home in the spring.

Here are pictures of the parade.