With the 2014 Holiday Lighted Boat Parade quickly approaching, preparations have begun to ensure that this year’s parade is brighter than ever. Scheduled for Saturday, December 6th, lighted boats will illuminate the night as they make their way from the Boca del Rio Area, moving southwards to Caribbean Villas then turning back to Central Park. If you have entered your boat but aren’t quite yet sure how to decorate it, or are looking for fun ideas, here are a couple easy tips to get you started.
• A cup of Christmas Cheer- Cut 1/4″ plywood in the shape of a cup (and saucer if you want). Paint it white and then outline the figure with white Christmas lights. You can even use a small spot light to illuminate the cup to highlight it. If you can get your hands on a fog machine, run while in the parade. If you do two cups-one each side of the boat- you can have someone standing on the sides with a large stick “stirring” the “cup of cheer”. Be sure to play music like “Let it snow” or “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire”, to tie in the whole image.
• A Sailboat Christmas tree- This is an easy one. Just run lines to the top of the mast and secure in a circle below. Run multi colored lights down each line. Put a lighted star on top. Create a more cheer atmosphere by having passengers on the boat dressed in seasonal costumes.
• Santa’s Gifts- Start collecting refrigerator, washer, dryer, stove boxes or any large ones. Paint them in different colors, bright colors will show best at night. Outline boxes with Christmas lights. Shape wire into bows and cover with cheap netting, you can also run lights inside of the net to highlight the bow. Boat passengers can be dressed in pajamas and nightgowns to give the feeling of a Christmas Eve night.
• Christmas Angel- Use PVC pipes and heavy wire to make an open shape of an angel. Run a tall PVC pipe up and put a star on top. Do in it all white. Guests dress in white for the purity religious theme.
• Party boat- Talk to Bowen & Bowen Limited to see if they have a blowup Lighthouse Beer of Belikin Beer bottle. Illuminate with green light and use a spotlight to highlight it. If not, build one out of 1/4″ plywood, paint it and illuminate it with Christmas Lights. Have a good time on board or charge persons to join your party boat!
• Christmas Octopus- Get in contact with Will Alamilla who created the octopus themed float of this year’s September Celebration parade. Use the octopus diorama. Have each tentacle hold a wrapped present or star fish. Outline with strands of Christmas lights. You could even use blue rope lights in a wavy pattern on the side of the boat to look like water.
• Net Christmas Tree- Raise a tall PVC pipe or pole and Shape the net over it like a Christmas tree. Decorate with lights and Christmas ornaments. Remember the star on top.
• Pirates Christmas- Use a couple of poles to hold up a wire shaped as a pirate’s bandana. Outline it with red lights. Dress as pirates and Ho-Hoho down the parade route.
• Fashion candy canes- Cut our cane shapes out of plywood. Outline them with red, green and white lights. Tie a bow in the middle. Dress-up as cheery Santa’s Elves.
• Santa’s Sleigh- Use 1/4″ plywood to cutout a sleigh. It must be two sided with a seat in the middle for Santa Clause to be seated. Decorate the sided with colorful rope lights. Be sure to have someone dressed as Santa. Have eight people put on reindeer horns and sit in front of the sleigh to simulate Santa’s reindeer pulling it.
• A neighborhood boat- Get your friends and neighbors together to loan the lights for the boat. Outline the boat with lights and ornaments. Have music and of course, lots of fun!
For more information on the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade email [email protected].
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