Here Are The Winners Of The 31st Annual North Carolina Holiday Flotilla

Crowd favorite - "Yellow Submarine" - photo by Brad Austin Butler

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC - Named one of the Top 20 Events by the Southeast Tourism Society in 2013, the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla celebrated its 31-year anniversary in Wrightsville Beach over Thanksgiving weekend.

An estimated 50,000 visitors, gathering on water and land, cheered on the parade of yachts and motorboats, each decorated with a holiday theme and thousands of glittering lights. The flotilla followed a 4-mile route through Motts Channel, Banks Channel and the Intracoastal Waterway, passing the judges' viewing stand at Blockade Runner Beach Resort.

A panel of judges, including John Boy, of John Boy and Billy's Big Show, carefully selected the winners, all competing for $10,500 in cash prizes plus holiday bragging rights. Text voting continued this year, with Crowd Favorite and People's Choice Awards determined by spectators.

The evening ended with a stunning 21-minute, 4,000-round fireworks display by Zambelli International, illuminating the night sky, and showering the waterway with sound and color.

Fall weather conditions were favorable with mild wind, clear sky, and fall temperature in the upper 40s.

2014 winners include:

Best Overall - "Good Tiding to You, Turtle" - photo by Beth Watson Hedgepeth

Category: Best Overall
Captain: Mike Spivey
Vessel: Angler Management
Theme: Good Tidings to You, Turtle

Category: Peoples Choice
Captain: Ava and Scott Werstlein
Vessel: No Name
Theme: Furtilla

Category: Crowd Favorite
Captain: Skip Wilson

Vessel: The Bottom Line
Theme: Yellow Submarine

Category: Best Powerboat 31ft. and over
Captain: Bob Bleecker
Vessel: J&B
Theme: Salt Life Santa

Category: Best Powerboat 23ft. - 31ft.
Captain: Eric Burns
Vessel: Chuck Norris
Theme: Sleigh Surfing

Category: Best Powerboat 22ft. and under
Captain: Brent Jernigan
Vessel: Craig Cat
Theme: Christmas Hummingbird

Category: Best Costumes & Crew Spirit
Captain: Castle Branch
Vessel: The Jolly Roger
Theme: Peter Pan

Click here for list of winners and photos

Flotilla website: www.NCHolidayFlotilla.org 

NC Holiday Flotilla Fireworks - photo by Brad Austin Butler

This post is written by Sarah Coulsey. She is a Wife, and Mother of two boys living in New England. This post may contain affiliate links.

31st Annual North Carolina Holiday Flotilla

This looks like a lot of fun.  I wish I lived closer!!

31^st Annual North Carolina Holiday Flotilla

A Thanksgiving Tradition

NC Holiday Flotilla, photography by Joshua McClure

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC - Named one of the Top 20 Events by the Southeast Tourism Society in 2013, the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla weekend, a coastal Thanksgiving tradition, returns to Wrightsville Beach,Nov. 27-30.

Celebrating a 31-year run, the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla attracts 50,000 visitors to its culminating event, a maritime parade featuring thematically decorated power yacht and sailboat floats. The spectacle, reflected in the Banks Channel, glitters with thousands of twinkling lights.

Located directly on the parade route, sponsor and host hotel Blockade Runner Beach Resort launches the weekend with a gala, Thanksgiving Day feast for early arrivals. Soundside, Cape Fear Naturalist Captain Joe Abbate navigates local waters guiding Masonboro Island, Harbor Island and Sunset Cruises for the family.

Friday brings Santa Claus and the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony to Wrightsville Beach Town Hall Park. Children anxiously await, list in hand, for a personal audience with St. Nick. At 7:00 p.m., The Embers - Featuring Craig Woolard, headline Atlantic Marine's festive Flotilla Launch Party, including dancing, hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar and silent auction of gifts from civic-minded supporters.

"One of the hidden gems during flotilla weekend is Saturday's Festival in the Park for the children," said Pres Davenport, Chairman of the Holiday Flotilla board.

From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the park is bustling with bouncy houses, slides, climbing walls, the Arab Choo Choo, live blue-grass music, an antique auto show, and, an estimated 100 booths featuring local merchants and arts and crafts vendors. Children will have an opportunity to decorate and submit entries in the flotilla boat-coloring contest, and Home Depot will be on site with wooden boat kits, free for young carpenters. Admission is free for the entire family.

2013 Best In Show, Photography by Beth Watson-Hedgepeth

Saturday at 6:00 p.m., a short burst of aerial fireworks will light up the sky announcing the twilight parade of beautifully lit and decorated power and sailing vessels. The flotilla weaves a 4-mile route through Motts Channel, Banks Channel and the Intracoastal Waterway, passing the judges' viewing stand at Blockade Runner, all competing for $10,500 in cash prizes. A panel of judges, including John Boy, of John Boy and Billy's Big Show, carefully select the winners. Text voting continues this year, with the Crowd Favorite and People's Choice Awards determined by spectators.

Immediately following the flotilla, a stunning 21-minute, 4,000-round fireworks display illuminates the night sky, showering the waterway with sound and color. "We have a long show by Zambelli International, one of the most reputable fireworks companies in the world," said Davenport. "We're able to put on a really impressive display that rivals or surpasses most July 4^thshows. Most shows are 15 minutes. That additional five to six minutes puts a great cap on the weekend with an impressive fireworks finale."

"Another thing we're really excited about this year is the fact that the Surfrider Foundation has volunteered to help clean up the waterway and beaches the morning after the fireworks show, to make sure the debris is gone and we are good stewards of the environment," said Davenport.

Flotilla website: www.NCHolidayFlotilla.org

Host hotel accommodations: Click here

 
This post is written by Sarah Coulsey. She is a Wife, and Mother of two boys living in New England. This post may contain affiliate links.