Bundled against a brisk evening breeze Moorings residents and friends gathered by the water at Compass Cove last Friday to view the 2016 Christmas Lighted Boat Parade, presented by the Moorings Yacht & Country Club, the Moorings Realty Sales Company and the Moorings of Vero Property Owners’ Association.
“We’ve been doing the boat parade here at the Moorings for 39 years; I’ve been involved for 10 years,” said parade organizer Vince DeTurris. “Up to 1992 they were doing day parades; nobody had power to light the boats up. In 2006 I convinced the management of the club that we needed to have a viewing area, because before then you had to have a home on the water in order to see the boats.”
White chairs dotted the waterside viewing area and as they waited for sunset, attendees mingled and enjoyed refreshments and cookies, laughing at the disparity of apparel between longtime Florida residents, snuggled warmly in their winter garb, and snowbirds in flip-flops and light jackets.
Choir director Gary Miller led talented members of the Indian River Charter High School Show Choir in a performance of holiday songs that included a festive Jingle all the Way Medley that attendees joined in on. Before the parade got underway, ceremonies included a blessing by Father Murphy and the lighting of the Moorings Christmas tree.
And, to the delight of the youngsters who eagerly flocked to him like a rock star, Santa arrived via golf cart and spent time with the little ones, passing out candy canes, posing for selfies and listening on bended knee to plenty of earnest Christmas wishes.
This year’s parade saw a total of 18 boats, ranging in size from 17 feet to 46 feet, each decked out with colorful and elaborate lights. Those on board the vessels waved to their friends in the appreciative gathering. Several boats had inflatable decorations, including one crowd pleaser ferrying a couple of yellow Minions that wafted about in the wind. Included in the 18 were one each from the U.S. Coast Guard, Indian River County Fire Rescue and the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, lending a hand for the evening’s festivities.
As the final boats departed the cove, 250 guests headed over to the Moorings Club for a Holiday Sunset Social in the Sunset Grille to warm up and party on.