Christmas Boat Parade

Click on any of the boat photos to see a much larger image.






















The once forecast rain didn't happen and the Gulf Shores / Orange Beach Christmas Boat Parade last night happened on a wonderfully balmy 70 degree December night. I was fortunate to have been invited to ride on the Chamber lead boat in the parade, the Miss Celeste and it was a real treat. This big boat is 110 ft long and is bigger than my house !

We boarded at 3:30 at Zeke's Marina in Orange Beach and the parade started around Terry Cove and Ono Island. All the partipating boats had numbers and there was judging going on. Not sure what the judging critera was. I think who was having the most fun was on the list !

The parade headed on down the Intercoastal Waterway (all barge and other traffic was stopped for this--I'm sure they LOVED that) and cars and waving people lined the Intercoastal.

The parade ended at Lulu's (Lucy, Jimmy Buffet's sister's place) under the bridge in Gulf Shores. A big crowd was already there to welcome the boats and the singing Christmas pirates and awards were presented by John Bowler, current Chamber chairman. Lucy Buffett is standing on the right dressed in black in the last photo.









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