The 7th annual Winter Park Holiday Boat Parade and Festival of Lights will take place, rain or shine, December 11, 2010 on Virginia and Osceola lakes. Its a fun, community-wide water parade with holiday-themed and lighted boats along the lakes’ shorelines.
Schedule:
3:30 – 4:30 pm: Water ski show will be on Lake Virginia with viewing on the Rollins College campus by the Jump Ramp in front of the Campus Student Center/Swimming Pool. The area’s leading water skiers will be performing a one-hour ski show to music. Over two dozen professional skiers will be pulled by Southeast MasterCraft boats performing routines featuring jumps, multiple skiers’ acts, barefoot, wake boards, and high-performance equipment.Organizers of the event are seeking resident and business boat entries. For resident boats, there is no entry fee, and all local licensed area boat owners are invited to participate. Boat registration is required with applications available by contacting winterparkboatparade@polasek.org or call 407-647-6492.
5 pm: Festivities kick off at the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. Live music will be provided by area favorites Tim and Mike Coons. The Coons Brothers will perform their updated versions of classic hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s —songs that baby boomers and their children know and love. Also, the great sounds of the 12-piece band “The Escorts” will bring the holiday spirit of the season to life.
The Polasek Museum also hosts the official judging stand for the Winter Park Holiday Boat Parade. In addition to live music, the Rotary Club of Winter Park will host a fundraiser to benefit local non-profits, with food, wine and beer available for purchase. Admission to the Polasek Gardens for the Parade is FREE. Limited onsite parking will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Polasek Gardens for a $5 donation.
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets friends and family to the Polasek to enjoy a Winter Park holiday tradition. Dinky Dock (off Fairbanks Avenue) is another public viewing area for the parade beginning at sundown.
Sundown: The parade will begin on east shore of Lake Virginia in front of Windsong and proceed clockwise around the shores of Lake Virginia, then proceed through the Palm Canal to Lake Osceola.
About 6:30 pm: Boat parade passes in front of judges at Albin Polasek Museum & Gardens and tours around Lake Osceola.