By Martie Thompson
editor@floridanewsline.com
The Julington Creek Boat Parade of Lights will light up Julington Creek on Saturday, Dec. 7 beginning at 7 p.m. The annual event, sponsored by the Julington Creek Prop Club, is celebrating its 36th year — and Prop Club Commodore Bob Ponik is extending an invitation for St. Johns County and Mandarin neighbors to come out and get in the holiday spirit.
“Spectators can view the parade from the Julington Creek Bridge walkways,” Ponik said.
Established in 1988, this annual event features an estimated 40 boats of all shapes, sizes, and themes, all decked out in their holiday finery. The parade route begins at the Julington Creek Marina, goes underneath the Julington Creek Bridge and motors around Bulls Bay (where Julington Creek empties into the St. Johns River), then returns under the bridge and continues down Durbin Creek.
Homeowners with docks located on the parade route also join in the fun as decorated docks can vie for a variety of prizes. Tradition holds that the boaters judge the docks.
“The people along the shores of the creek put on quite a show for us every year,” Ponik said. “We have people shooting fireworks, parties with live bands, and bonfires. Some have as many as 100 people waving and shouting ‘Happy Holidays!’ The people on shore have as much fun as the boaters.”
According to Ponik, the best decorated boat gets a $300 cash prize, while second place gets $200 and third place, $100. All boaters participating also receive a Captain’s Gift Bag. Prizes are also awarded for “Best Dock” along the parade route.
There is a great deal of planning and organizational prep work done in advance of this event. The Prop Club starts in October each year contacting boaters, area merchants, and residents, gathering donations for the event. Some of the boats participating in the parade are Prop Club members and others come from all over the area. Boats range in size from 17 to 40 feet in length.
“Annual dues from Prop Club members provide some of the funds for the Julington Creek Boat Parade of Lights, but we depend on and appreciate many local businesses’ and waterfront owners’ contributions as well,” Ponik said. “Without their help we would not have this event.”
The Julington Creek Prop Club is a social organization of past, present, and future boaters that meets on the second Saturday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Julington Creek Marina dock; all interested boaters are invited to join for boating information and fun at the creek. Email commodore@jcpropclub.com for more information.
Photo courtesy Julington Creek Prop Club
