THE 23RD ANNUAL CHRISTMAS ON THE WATER BOAT PARADE

Every year I like to experience new and exciting things. This Christmas I was invited to the City of Biloxi to participate in the 23rd Annual Christmas on the Water Boat Parade. It was a cold and fridged afternoon but the experience of watching the sun go down over the Gulf of Mexico from the bow of the Conch Out Too was well worth the unsavory conditions. We had tasty chili along with many beverages to keep us warm.

As I looked around it was amazing to me how many ways people could decorate powerboats and sailboats. As the sun went down and darkness set in, the many colors of the lights really took over these floating masterpieces.

The parade was started 24 years ago by Rusty David and friends, all of whom are boat owners or boat captains. There is a committee of 6-7 ladies that actually do all of the day to day work. All of the industrious work is done by volunteers who maintain their fulltime jobs. The entrance fee has remained at $25 per boat from the beginning, so that anyone can afford to enter. Rusty raises money to cover the expenses, especially the cost of the fireworks show. Historically most of the donations have come from the business community, but since Katrina that is harder to do, so he has turned to asking for individual donations. The community has stepped up and helped keep this annual event alive.

The first parade started with 4-5 boats, and in 2004, 85 boats participated. Each year Christmas revelers park along Highway 90 and people picnic all over the beach. The parking garages at the casinos are now a popular location and are full of spectators.

The Christmas on the Water Boat Parade has been a great tradition for the Gulf Coast.Katrina destroyed many of the boats, as well as homes but not the community’s spirit. Rusty persevered and 8 boats turned out for 2005, just 3 months after Katrina. “It was a weird time, said Rusty. “There were no lights along Hwy. 90 and the beach. Fortunately our fireworks man, who has done the parade from the beginning, donated the entire cost of the fireworks.

Rusty is comitted to the parade and its participates every year but his boat is not included in the judging. The ladies on the committee pick the judges each year and no one knows ahead of time who they are.

The judging is divided into classes. Power boats 20' to 30', 31' to 40', 41' to 50' and 60' and over. This is the same for sail boats and then commercial sail and power boats are all in one class. Each class has 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place trophies. These trophies are pewter cups ranging in size according to the place. The "Santa's Best of Fleet" for the overall winner is sponsored by Rex Distributing Company (the local Budwieser distributor) and has been doing so since the first year. All of the trophies are made locally by Ballard Pewter in Ocean Springs.

The boat I had the pleasure to ship out on, Conch Out Too, is Captained and owned by Bill and Patty Dickerson. They have been involved since 1999. They have used several of their boats and have been fortunate enough to have won a third in class twice with their first boat, and a second in class last year with this boat. Bill and Patty were shooting for a first in class this year, but were completely shocked to win the Santa's Best of Fleet Bowl.

Some say the many lights and colors won the Santa Bowl prize as we passed the judges but I personally believe it was the dancing girls on the front of the boat dancing and singing a well choreographed rendition of, ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’.

Many Thanks to Bill and Patty for the invite and hope I get the call again next year.