Gulfport Boaters To 'Deck The Hulls' For 36th Annual Christmas Boat Parade Saturday

GULFPORT, FL — Boaters will "deck the hulls" Saturday as the 36th annual Boca Ciega Yacht Club Christmas boat parade kicks off at 6 p.m.

Boats will begin to gather in the bay around 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., the Gulfport Police boat will call the boats together to line up, and will then lead the parade.

The parade starts at the Gulfport Municipal Marina and passes by the Boca Ciega Yacht Club clubhouse on its way into the bay, heading to Gulfport's Williams Pier and the beach, and passing by the Gulfport Casino.

The parade will make its way through the communities of Town Shores, Pelican Bay, Skimmers Point, Bayview Circle, past Kipps Colony, near the Pasadena Yacht & Country Club, along Dolphin Boulevard to the Pasadena Golf Club Estates, across to Isla del Sol, and then head back to the boat slips.

A mandatory skipper's meeting will take place Friday, Dec. 10 at the yacht club's clubhouse.

Paul Ray, council member for Ward 3, will be the 2021 Santa. The fee for boat participants is two unwrapped toy donations, checks or supermarket gift certificates for Operation Santa, benefitting children in Gulfport in need. Operation Santa is coordinated by the Gulfport Police Department and the Boca Ciega Yacht Club has participated for 20 years.

The community is also welcome to drop off unwrapped toys at the clubhouse.

This year's post-parade party is for members and invited guests only and will be a traditional potluck event. Bring appetizers, entrees, sides, salads and desserts.

For information, contact parade chairwoman Jenn Buckley at 813-323-5852 or email boatparade@sailbcyc.org.