Inside Edition’s Deborah Norville joins Winterfest as Grand Marshal.
Author: Q Branch
First Tall Ship
In 2012 the Winterfest parade hosted, for the first time, a replica of an 1812 tall ship – The Lynx
Commodore: John Haley
2011
Winterfest Flashback to 2011
“Rockin’ Boats and Holiday Floats”
2011 marked the 40th Anniversary of the Winterfest Celebration with the return of the Lady Windridge (170 ft yacht) in the parade after a five-year hiatus. The Lady Windridge was the 40th Anniversary Showboat hosted by Patriot National Insurance Group.
The parade theme “Rockin Boats and Holiday Floats” hosted fire truck and airplane barges, giant reindeer from the Galleria Mall, Congressman Allen West aboard a Sea Cadet Entry, Big 105.9 Paul & Young Ron – Anthony Coal Fired Pizza Entry, BB&T Grand Marshal Showboat with Barry Gibb aboard the Nova Southeastern University Bow, paddleboarders and more. The Baptist Health Santa Showboat returned with the Jolly ol’ Man decked in 1,500 LED lights.
Winterfest continued its charity initiative encouraging parade entries to promote a charity in the parade.
THE PEOPLE OF WINTERFEST
Grand Marshal: Barry Gibb
Commodore: Greg ‘Moondog’ Mooney – The movie “The Cove”
Jr. Captain of the Parade: Martina Bello – James Jr. Fund
Honorary Captain: Cameron Ader – Shake a Leg Miami
Belle of the Ball: Connie Chaney
Poster and T-Shirt Artist: Marine-life Artist Guy Harvey
Ornament Designer: Pat Anderson
Boat Parade Chairman: John Haley
Ball Chairs: Susan Renneisen and Kara Wolf
Shoreline Chair: Rosalie Wheatley
Grandstand Chairman: David Greenberger
Control Boat Chairs: Chase Camacho and Jim Zimmerman
Ham Operator Chair: Robin Terrill
Dock Walker Chair: Mark Swenson
Parade Judges Chairman: David Mundy
VIP Area/Winner’s Circle Chairman: Stacy Copeland
Carolyn McLaughlin Volunteer Spirits Award Winner: Ed Brazl / Student – Austen Read
Chairman of the Board: Robert W. Leider
President/CEO: Lisa Scott-Founds
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Culinary students from The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale competed for tasty prizes awarded by Winterfest, Crisco and Perrier.
The winners of the contest were:
Spa Cuisine Winner – Stephen Denihan
Signature Cocktail Winner – Ashley Gardiner
Appetizer and Entrée Winner – Terry Garrish
Dessert Winner and OVERALL Champion – Jessica Hernandez
First place winners in each category were each awarded $500. The overall Best in Show winner received a once in a lifetime cooking experience with acclaimed Chef Michelle Bernstein and a pair of tickets aboard the Grand Marshal Showboat in the 40th Annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade on December 10th. All First Place Winners presented their winning recipes at the Gray Robinson, P.A. Winterfest White Party presented by Crisco® at the Harbor Beach Marriott.
Grand Marshal: Barry Gibb
Multi-Grammy Award winning member of The Bee Gees, and Florida local, Barry Gibb brings the “Night Fever” to Winterfest as the Grand Marshal for 2011.
40th Anniversary of the Winterfest Celebration
Setting sail in 1971, 2011 marks the 40th time Winterfest, the parade where “the floats really float”, has celebrated the holidays.
Poster Artist: Guy Harvey
Marine wildlife artist and conservationist Guy Harvey returns to design the Winterfest Parade Poster for 2011
Seven Seals Award
Winterfest is presented with the Seven Seals Award “for meritorious leadership and initiative in support of the men and women who serve America in the National Guard and Reserve.”
2010
Winterfest Flashback to 2010
“Dancing thru the Decades”
In 2010 – Winterfest kicked-off the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Centennial with “Dancing thru the Decades” on December 11, 2010.
The Winterfest White Party was hosted at the Harbor Beach Marriott, where Grand Marshal Brooke Burke was announced and the Winterfest Poster created by Pop artist Charles Fazzino was unveiled.
The Clydey Foundation honored Fort Lauderdale as the Centennial Showboat. Other parade entries included the Sky Limo Airplane Barge, Red Bull BMX Bikes, Big 105.9 Paul & Young Ron – Anthony Coal Fired Pizza Entry, underWAY/Smart for Life Grand Marshal Showboat as well as the Baptist Health Santa Showboat with the Jolly ol’ Man decked in 1,500 LED lights!
Other Parade highlights: Remember Joe Millsaps parade entry with the Wounded Warriors and Broward Navy Days as well as other parade entries which showcased their heartstrings by putting charity names on their boat.
Parade Theme: “Dancing thru the Decades” in celebration of the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Centennial
THE PEOPLE OF WINTERFEST
Grand Marshal: Brooke Burke
Commodore: Frank Herhold
Captain: J. David Armstrong, Jr.
Jr. Captain of the Parade: Alison Marchessault – (born with excessive form of Polycystic Kidney Disease) Starlight Children’s
Belle of the Ball: Susan Renneisen
Poster Artist: Charles Fazzino
Ornament Designer: Pat Anderson
Boat Parade Chairman: John Haley
Ball Chairs: Susan Renneisen and Connie Chaney
Shoreline Chair: Rosalie Wheatley
Grandstand Chairman: David Greenberger
Control Boat Chairs: Bill Lindsey and Jim Zimmerman
Ham Operator Chair: Robin Terrill
Carolyn McLaughlin Volunteer Spirits Award Winner: Alice Harry
Chairman of the Board: Paul Anderson
President/CEO: Lisa Scott-Founds
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Winterfest adds “Elves” to the parade (Ryan / Shane Keleher).
Grand Marshal: Brooke Burke
“Dancing with the Stars” winner and co-host Brooke Burke is Grand Marshal for Winterfest’s “Dancing thru the Decades” theme.