PALM COAST, Fla. (October 11, 2022) Heralding in what has become the one of largest privately organized holiday boat parades in Florida, the Palm Coast Yacht Club added a thank you kick off party to their list of events leading up this year’s big parade.
Organizer Sarah Ulis, vice commodore and chair of the Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade co-hosted the event at the Palm Coast Community Center on Saturday, October 8th alongside the club’s commodore Donella Crawford.
“This is great. Ordinarily we wait until later in the year but to really get going we already have a bunch of boats registered so it’s going to be bigger and better than ever,” said Crawford. “We also wanted to just thank those who have supported us over the years and always been there.”
Remarks by Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly and Flagler County Education Foundation Executive Director Teresa Rizzo shared their appreciation for the club’s community spirit, hard work and the special dedication of the parade to Rizzo’s husband Joe Rizzo who passed away this spring.
“The 39th Annual Palm Coast Boat Parade is very special to me because they are honoring my beloved late husband Joe Rizzo this year,” she shared. “I’m just thrilled and honored to be invited and asked for this opportunity.”
“I am very surprised because Joe isn’t a boater. He would get sea sick,” she said with great humor. “I do know that they asked due to his impact and love of this community, and they just wanted to make sure that they had their part in honoring his memory.”
Club members and the public are invited to join in the annual boat parade at no cost, according to Ulis, who finds her greatest joy in opening the email each day leading up to the event to find another registration.
Her goal is to reach 100 boats in 2022.
“Word gets out about how much fun it is to be in it and there’s no competition, no contest to see who has the most money and can put on the most lights. It’s about the spirit of Palm Coast and being in this community, which is just all encompassing. It’s like a big hug every year.”
Helping support the event is the Florida Inland Navigational District and Commissioner Randy Stapleford was on hand to present a $500 check to help get the word out about the signature event.
“We hope this year will be bigger than ever and we thank you for letting us do such,” said Stapleford.
Last year’s boat parade was the biggest to date for the Palm Coast Yacht Club with more than 70 boats and was broadcast live by Flagler Radio on KOOL 100.9 FM with commentary on the boat decorations, owners and the festivities led by jazz singer Linda Cole and Priscilla Netts, wife of the late Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts.
Drawing thousands of spectators to the Intracoastal Waterway’s parks, access points and homes, celebrating the boat parade is a highlight of the holiday season. It will be held on December 3, 2022 with Ken Mazzie and Donna Heiss serving as captains of the lead vessel “Sunshine”.
For more information or to sign up, visit www.palmcoastyachtclub.com.
