- This event has passed.
35th Annual BCYC Lighted Holiday Boat Parade
December 12, 2020 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
The Boca Ciega Yacht Club (BCYC), a not for profit
organization, is announcing the 35th year of its Lighted Christmas Boat
Parade which will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2020 beginning at 6:30
pm. BCYC conducts the boat parade to generate donations and other support
for the Gulfport Police Department’s Operation Santa charity which
provides gifts to children whose Christmas’s would otherwise be less
joyous without the generous support of the Gulfport community. This year
will mark BCYC’s 20th year of proudly supporting this wonderful program.
The Annual Lighted Christmas Boat Parade is an all-volunteer event
organized by the members of BCYC and is an event happily shared with the
residents of Gulfport, South Pasadena, and St. Petersburg. Members spend
many hours planning and then decorating their boats for maximum enjoyment.
This year has been a very hard year for everyone and BCYC is happy to
“flip it” so instead of soliciting donations from local businesses to be
prizes for the boat captains, BCYC will instead purchase gift certificates
from the local businesses as the prizes. We want to support our local
community in a year that has been difficult and as many of our long-time
supporters are struggling.
The parade will begin by entering the Gulfport Municipal Marina at
approximately 6:30 pm. It will then travel past the William’s Pier &
Casino in Gulfport past the beaches and into the canals of Town Shores
Condominiums and Pasadena Yacht Club Estates before returning to BCYC.
This year, due to social-distancing and other safety protocols, BCYC has
canceled the post-parade party.
There is an entry fee for each boat of two unwrapped toys or a monetary
donation (checks must be made out to “Operation Santa”). Each year toys
are collected for “Operation Santa,” and presented to Gulfport’s Police
Department for distribution to needy children. Both sail and power boats
are welcome to join in the fun and this event is open to both members and
non-members.
Registration is available online at
http://www.sailbcyc.org/ChristmasBoatParade.