Lighted boat parade heads list of weekend family activities

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND – The Christmas Lighted Boat Parade is expected to be bigger than it has been in years.

With more than 20 boats already registered for the event tomorrow night, Saturday, and great weather anticipated, it is sure to be a night you shouldn’t miss out on the island.

And people are ready.

“Everyone is very excited,” said Marisa Amaya, the special event development and package manager at the SPI Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

“When they hear the amount of boats entered, they say this is where it used to be.”

Amaya said she believes it will be a sight to see.

“We want to showcase the lighted boat parade,” she said. “It is quite a sight over the water when there are good amount of boats out there.”

This is the first year the SPI CVB is in charge of the event after years of the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce running it.

However, time became a problem for the PI chamber and a request was made in fall for the SPI CVB to take it on. Amaya said the CVB agreed.

Changes have been made that are expected to make the parade a better experience for those involved and those watching.

The route has been shortened and the parade will take about 2 hours at the most, now.

“We listened to the spectators and the boat owners,” Amaya said.

There will be four commercial boats entered and other boats anywhere between 19 and 60 feet long.

The boats will gather at the South Point Marina in Port Isabel near Long Island Village.

The parade will then go under the swing bridge and under the Causeway and make a turn toward the Pirate’s Landing pier and run along the Causeway and north up along the bayfront.

Amaya said the best location to view the lighted boat parade depends upon whether you head all the way to SPI or stay in PI.

For Port Isabel, the best locations are anywhere between Long Island Village and Pirate’s Landing.

On SPI, the best spots are anywhere along the bay side. The best spot may be in what is called the Greens, the area between Jim’s Pier and Louie’s Backyard.

There, picnic tables will be set up for viewing.

The parade is expected to start at 6 p.m. and end at about 7:30 or 8 p.m.

But, the goal is to get people to come out for more than just the lighted boat parade.

That will happen with other activities, according to Amaya.

Also in the Greens, there will be activities before the boat parade and then again on Sunday, called Children’s Wonderland.

This is a new activity and fits in with Amaya’s efforts to bring people from the Valley for the entire weekend as well as provide activities for the kids.

There will be bounce houses, obstacle courses and a climbing wall among other activities like Christmas music and more to entertain a family of all ages.

“We want people to come out and enjoy the whole day as a family,” Amaya said.

The best thing about it, it’s all free.