CLEARWATER - The Annual Memorial Holiday Boat Parade, organized by the Island Estates Yacht Club, is scheduled for Saturday, December 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a rain date of December 11. The lighted-water parade, one of the most popular events in the Clearwater area, is celebrating its 31st year.
The parade also honors the memory of Island Estates Yacht Club members who passed away this year. This year the water pageant will honor Charles "Fritz" Bentler and Bill Frey.
The decorated boats will assemble in Mandalay Channel located between Island Estates and Clearwater Beach at 6 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., Captain Tom Kasinski will lead the parade in and out of many of the Island Estate canals before heading over to Coachman Park around 8 p.m. From there the boats will go under the new Memorial Causeway Bridge turning into the Clearwater Marina channel before navigating to the Clearwater Yacht Club judging stand. Cash and gift certificate prizes, donated by many area businesses, will be awarded to the best decorated boats.