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Saturday, December 8th for the
33rd Annual BCYC Gulfport Christmas Boat Parade
Each year, BCYC members and members of the general public come together to spread holiday joy by decking the hulls and heading out on Boca Ciega Bay to parade the BCYC way!
We start at the Gulfport Municipal Marina and pass by the BCYC clubhouse on our way out into the bay. Next we head to Gulfport's Williams Pier and the beach, passing by the Gulfport Casino. We make our way through the communities of Town Shores, Kipps Colony and the Pasadena Yacht & Country Club, Pasadena Golf Club Estates and Dolphin Boulevard South where holiday parties wait for us to pass by. Lastly we visit Isla del Sol, then head back to the BCYC clubhouse for the Post Parade party.
But it's about more than fun and merriment. Participants need only a simple fee to enter - two (or more!) unwrapped toys for Operation Santa. Operation Santa, coordinated by the Gulfport police department, collects toys for the children of Gulfport whose holidays would be sadder without the generosity of the community. Boca Ciega Yacht Club is proud to have been part of Operation Santa for 18 years.
In turn BCYC depends on the generosity of our wonderful parade sponsors, who allow us to shower our participants with fun and useful prizes at the end of the parade. Everyone is a winner at this event and no boat goes home empty handed — so you can imagine it takes many generous sponsors to spread the joy around. Please see a list of our 2017 sponsors below. We would love it if you could support these sponsors when doing your holiday shopping!
For spectators, spend the day at Gulfport's 10th Annual Holiday Hoopla, watch the parade and dine in Gulfport that evening!
Download a 2018 boat parade flyer to share.
Download the 2018 boat parade map.
If you would like to become a 2018 parade sponsor, contact parade chairs Samantha Ring at 727-254-100 or Kim Westerfield at 727-239-2719 or boatparade@sailbcyc.org.
Entry Fee: Two (or more) unwrapped children's presents OR a check made out to "Operation Santa", the City of Gulfport's annual toy drive.
Prizes: Prizes will be awarded during the Post Parade Party for participating boats. (You must be present to win.)
Post Parade Party: Our Post Parade Party is a potluck party for participating boats and their crew (so bring a dish to share) with holiday drinks, music, singing and BCYC's legendary rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas (hopefully, not too off-key!)
