In a repeat of 2015, USA Today 10Best readers recognized Winterfest as one of the Top 10 Best Holiday Festivals.
Author: Q Branch
2015
Winterfest Flashback to 2015
“Fairy Tales Afloat”
2015 brought the world of magic to the Parade with the theme “Fairy Tales Afloat.” Grand Marshal Nick Cannon waved to the crowds as Commodore Captain Lee left the helm to stand on the bow of the Republic National Distributing Company’s showboat. The Parade held a record number of entries including barges.
The Blacktie Ball kicked it up a notch with Broadway’s “Kinky Boots.” The Captain’s Meeting found a new location at the Hilton on 17th Street Causeway and the Family Fun Day tied in with the City of Fort Lauderdale’s “Open Streets” for the second year in a row.
As the year came to a close, USA Today 10Best readers recognized Winterfest as one of the Top 10 Best Holiday Festivals.
THE PEOPLE OF WINTERFEST
Grand Marshal: Nick Cannon
Celebrity and Commodore: Below Deck’s Capt. Lee
Knight: Bob Leider (WSVN)
Jr. Captain of the Parade: Madison Smith– Cure SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) South Florida Chapter
Belle of the Ball: Lori Perlman – Broward Health
Poster Artist: Marcia K. Moore
Ornament Designer: Pat Anderson
Boat Parade Chairman: Mark Swenson
Ball Chairs: Susan Renneisen & Lori Perlman
Student Art Chair: Rosalie Wheatley
Grandstand Chairman: David Greenberger
Control Boat Chair: Jim Zimmerman
Ham Operator Chair: Robin Terrill
Dock Walker Chair: Paula Bolender
Parade Judges Chair: David Mundy
VIP Area Chair: Lisa Duke
Logistic Chair: John Haley
Volunteer Chair: Ginny Miller
Captain’s Cup Chair: Kelly Tortoriello
Carolyn McLaughlin Volunteer Spirits Award Winner: Kandi Osman
Chairman of the Board: Jim Dunn
President/CEO: Lisa Scott-Founds
THE BOATS OF WINTERFEST
2015 Boat Parade Participants
| PRE SHOW | ||
| Boat Number | Cryon | Boat Name |
| B | Broward College aboard Sea Ark | Sea Ark |
| A | Broward College aboard Whaler | Whaler |
| D | Dania Beach Ocean Rescue | Dania Beach Ocean Rescue |
| G | paddleboarder | Jeff Berry |
| H | paddleboarder | Naomi Gutnik |
| E | paddleboarder | RK Ocean Gear 1 |
| F | paddleboarder | RK Ocean Gear 2 |
| H | paddleboarder | Rogue |
| C | Romantic Venice | Romantic Venice |
| J | South Florida Kayak Meetup | South Florida Kayak Meetup |
| PARADE | ||
| Boat Number | Cryon | Boat Name |
| 46 | 12 Dinghies with Toys for Tots | 12 Dinghies with Malesh |
| 36 | Carefree Boat Club | 2 Much Fun |
| 49 | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| 29 | Advanced Roofing | Advanced Roofing |
| 29 | Advanced Roofing Limo Boat | Advanced Roofing Limo Boat |
| 32 | Boatsetters aboard Alcyon | Alcyon |
| 63 | Andy Jay | Andy Jay |
| 67 | Chinese Cultural Association of Coral Springs | Aqua View |
| 23 | Winterfest Social Media | AquaAdz |
| 84 | US Naval Sea Cadet Corps | Archer |
| 70 | B and B | B and B |
| 20 | Bahia Breeze | Bahia Breeze |
| 30 | Rotary of Fort Lauderdale | Barge- Rotary -(BK Marine) |
| 75 | South Florida Ford | Barge- South Florida Ford (Lovell) |
| 66 | BeBe | BeBe |
| 91 | Belzona Marine I | Belzona Marine I |
| 92 | Belzona Marine III | Belzona Marine II |
| 93 | Belzona Marine III | Belzona Marine III |
| 10 | Bimini Twist | Bimini Twist |
| 69 | Outboard Paint Shop aboard Boom | Boom |
| 54 | Galleria Reindeer | Caprice |
| 16 | Jr. Captain Showboat | Carrie B |
| 5 | Republic National Distributing Company | Catalina |
| 38 | Conchflyer | Conchflyer |
| 12 | Cutie Putt Tootie | Cutie Putt Tootie |
| 39 | American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Broward County | Daffy |
| 9 | Date Night | Date Night |
| 2 | Winterfest Fireworks Barge presented by Dynamic Effects | Fireworks Barge |
| 26 | Nutcracker | First Love |
| 76 | Chabad Lubavitch, Happy Chanukah | Flamingo |
| 51 | Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center | Floridian Princess |
| 68 | Freedom Waters Foundation | Freedom Waters Foundation Deck Boat |
| 11 | General Lee | General Lee |
| 71 | Resolutions Made Easy – Credit Repair | Got Credit |
| 3 | Grand Marshal Showboat | Grand Floridian |
| 37 | Carefree Boat Club | Great Escape |
| 41 | Hatterascal | Hatterascal |
| 53 | Bikini Boat Wash | Hit That |
| 98 | Its All Good | Its All Good |
| 100 | Baptist Health Santa Claus Showboat | Jungle Queen |
| 40 | Knit Wits | Knit Wits |
| 17 | Construction Angels | Kool Kat |
| 21 | La Pintita | La Pintita |
| 6 | Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity | Lady Windridge |
| 48 | Miami Bruce Band | Lajran |
| 60 | South Florida Chronicles | Lauraki |
| 99 | Winterfest Fairy Tales Afloat | Liberty Bell |
| 80 | Love Magic | Love Magic |
| 47 | ACR Electronics | Mark VI |
| 55 | Miss Bradford | Miss Bradford |
| 52 | Miss Jules | Miss Jules |
| 28 | Miss Trish | Miss Trish |
| 25 | Mr. Bobb | Mr. Bobb |
| 73 | Mr. CJ | Mr. CJ |
| 18 | The Wellington Wildlife Concervation Center | Musette |
| 19 | Winterfest Fantasy Dragon presented by BB&T | Musette II |
| 35 | Carefree Boat Club | My Girl |
| 74 | Nauti Lady | Nauti Lady |
| 72 | Navigator | Navigator |
| 14 | OuttaControl | OuttaControl |
| 45 | Roxie | Roxie |
| 8 | Sail Fish | Sail Fish |
| 31 | West Insurance of Florida | Salty Dawg |
| 34 | Carefree Boat Club | Scout Dorado |
| 43 | Season’s Hospice Foundation | Sea Life |
| 94 | Seakeeper | Seakeeper |
| 65 | SeaSpy | SeaSpy |
| 50 | She’s A 10 | She’s A 10 |
| 13 | Shirean | Shirean |
| 4 | Anthony’s Runway 84/ Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza/ Big 105.9 | Summerwind |
| 59 | Florida Spine Specialists | Sundream |
| 33 | Cliff Berry Inc. | The Berry Patch |
| 64 | The Yellow Streak | The Yellow Streak/ Sea Craft |
| 88 | Three of a Kind | Three of a Kind |
| 61 | Salt Life Rentals | Tons of Fun |
| 15 | Two Men And A Truck | Two Men And A Truck |
| 1 | USCG Hudson | USCG Hudson |
| 22 | WSVN Channel 7 | Venetian Lady |
| 89 | Diveheart | War Eagle |
| 44 | Burger Fi | Water Taxi – Fiesta |
| 56 | Tortuga Music Festival | Water Taxi – Island Discovery |
| 57 | Florida Marlins | Water Taxi – Island Expedition |
| 58 | Birch State Park | Water Taxi -Rio Vista |
| 7 | Pet Supermarket | Windridge K |
| 62 | Xtra Dirty | Xtra Dirty |
2015 VIDEOS:
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
In 2015, USA Today 10Best readers recognized Winterfest as one of the Top 10 Best Holiday Festivals.
Grand Marshal: Nick Cannon
Actor, comedian, rapper and host of America’s Got Talent, Nick Cannon is the Grand Marshal for 2015.
Belle of the Ball: Lori Perlman
Commodore: Capt. Lee Rosbach
Knight: Bob Leider
Winterfest in the 10Best
In 2015, USA Today 10Best readers recognized Winterfest as one of the Top 10 Best Holiday Festivals.
2014
Winterfest Flashback to 2014
“TV’s Greatest Hits”
2014 transformed the waterway into television waves with the theme “TV’s Greatest Hits.” Iconic show images from your favorite decades adorned showboats sponsored by South Florida Ford, FPL and JM Lexus.
Celebrity David Cassidy waved to the crowds aboard the Partridge Family showboat.
The soul of Broadway’s Motown had guests dancing at the Winterfest Black Tie Ball to the sounds of the Billboard charts as guests danced the night away at Hard Rock Live.
Grand Marshal Flo Rida sang throughout the 12 miles of the Parade Route.
THE PEOPLE OF WINTERFEST
Grand Marshal: Flo Rida
Celebrity: David Cassidy
Commodore: Rob Kornahrens
Jr. Captain of the Parade: Alex Casamento (Arthritis Foundation)
Belle of the Ball: Diana Reed
Poster Artist: Nadine Floyd
Ornament Designer: Pat Anderson
Boat Parade Chairman: John Haley
Ball Chairs: Susan Renneisen & Lori Perlman
Shoreline / Student Art Chair: Rosalie Wheatley
Grandstand Chairman: David Greenberger
Control Boat Chairs: Jim Zimmerman
Ham Operator Chair: Robin Terrill
Dock Walker Chair: Mark Swenson
Parade Judges Chairman: David Mundy
VIP Area Chair: Lisa Duke
Volunteer Chair: Ginny Miller
Captain’s Cup Chair: Kelly Tortoriello
Carolyn McLaughlin Volunteer Spirits Award Winner: Paula Bolender
Chairman of the Board: Kenneth A. Ortner
President/CEO: Lisa Scott-Founds
2014 VIDEOS
Beacon TV interview with Winterfest President
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
President and CEO Lisa Scott Founds received letters from President Barack Obama and Governor Rick Scott recognizing her twenty years of achievements, dedication and passion for Winterfest.
The framed letter was given to Ms. Founds during the GrayRobinson, P.A. Winterfest White Party presented by Publix prior to the announcement of the 2014 Grand Marshal for the Parade Flo Rida on Saturday, November 15, 2014.
2014 Press Releases (.doc, .pdf and link formats)
2014 Winterfest Souvenir Journal
2014 IFEA Pinnacle Award Winners
Press Release 2014 Jr. Captain
FFEA 2014-2015 Board of Directors Release
Winterfest Wins 1st and 3rd Place at FFEA Conference
Grand Marshal: Flo Rida
Florida native and People’s Choice Award Winner Flo Rida is the 2014 Grand Marshal.