Winterfest’s first President/CEO/Chair is TravelHost Magazine’s Ina Lee. Ina will fill the role for the next six years.
Author: Q Branch
First Tourist Council Funding
Broward’s Tourist Development Council, June Switken, director, first funds Winterfest in 1982.
The First “Winter Festival”
In 1982, the annual Christmas Boat Parade was expanded into a week-long, county-wide Winter Festival.
1981
The Tenth Annual Christmas Boat Parade was the biggest and best ever when it weighed anchor on Saturday, December 19th, 1981 at 7:00 p.m.
Starting at the turning basin of Port Everglades, the parade, for the first time limited to 125 boats and viewed by more than 500,000 people, headed north on the Intracoastal Waterway, past the special Parade Viewing Area with lighting and bleachers for the public at Birch State Park and on to Lake Santa Barbara at the border of Broward County.
GRAND MARSHALS
1981 Christmas Boat Parade Grand Marshals
John Scheider and Laura Malone
John Schneider – Famous for his role as Bo Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard.
Laura Malone – Soap Opera Queen who played Blaine Ewing on Another World.
The Grand Marshals, along with many other V.I.P.’s, rode aboard the lead boat, the 90′ luxury yacht Sun Dream.
There were four official categories that boats could compete in:
- Best Decorated Commercial Entry Under 50 Feet
- Best Decorated Commercial Entry Over 50 Feet
- Best Decorated Private Entry Under 30 Feet
- Best Decorated Private Entry Over 30 Feet
Judging criteria included general appearance, use of lights, originality, live performance and costumes, and use of sound.
Local network personalities Steve Rondinaro and Donna Hanover acted as M.C.’s, narrating the evening’s event from ashore. Official television coverage was provided by Channel 7, WCKT-TV, including overhead viewing taped from a helicopter.
For the third year, Y-100 was the official radio station for the holiday parade.
Bill Davell was the 1981 Chair of the Christmas Boat Parade Committee of the Fort Lauderdale Broward County Chamber of Commerce.
The 1981 Christmas Boat Parade was Sponsored By:
Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Chamber of Commerce
(George Sullivan, President)
Marine Industries Association of South Florida
(Harrison “Hutch” Hutchengs, President)
Fort Lauderdale Area Board of Realtors
(Douglas Cole, President)
The City of Fort Lauderdale
(Honorable Virginia Young, Mayor)
Co-Grand Marshal: John Schneider
John Schneider, famous for his role as Bo Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard, is the 1981 Co-Grand Marshal of the Christmas Boat Parade.
Co-Grand Marshal: Laura Malone
Soap opera queen Laura Malone, Blaine Ewing on Another World, is the 1981 Co-Grand Marshal of the Christmas Boat Parade.
Parade Limited To 125 Boats
For the first time, to ensure safety, parade participation is limited to 125 boats. Applicants are selected based on their decorations and their entertainment value.
1979
The Eight Annual Christmas Boat Parade set sail on Saturday, Dec. 15, 1979 at 5:30 p.m. Starting at the turning basin of Port Everglades, the parade, consisting of 180 boats and viewed by more than 250,000 people, headed north on the Intracoastal Waterway, past the reviewing stand at Bahia Mar and on to Lake Santa Barbara at the border of Broward County.
Consider Joining The Christmas Boat Caravan
There were five official categories for boats:
- Best Decorated Cruiser Of More Than 30 Feet
- Best Decorated Boat Under 30 Feet
- Best Decorated Sail Boat
- Best Decorated Commercial Entry
- and Most Unique and Original Design
For the first time, in 1979, the committee decided to let land establishments along the Intracoastal Waterway in on the fun – and the prizes.
For land establishments, there were four categories to enter:
- Best Decorated Private Home
- Best Decorated Condominium Or Apartment Building
- Best Decorated Restaurant Or Lounge
- and Best Decorated Marine Or Commercial Establishment
Prizes were handsome plaques engraved with a drawing of the winning boat or building.
Bill Davell was the 1979 Chair of the 13 member Christmas Boat Parade Committee of the Fort Lauderdale Area Chamber of Commerce, which included previous chair Kaye Pearson, Ben Symmers and Jerry Pascoe.
Grand Marshal and Honorary Chairman of the parade was Ralph Renick, news director for Miami’s television station WTVJ, Channel 4.
The Chamber’s parade was co-sponsored by the Fort Lauderdale Area Board of Realtors, the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, and the Fort Lauderdale News and Sun-Sentinel.
Grand Marshall: Ralph Renick
Grand Marshal and Honorary Chairman of the 1979 Christmas Boat Parade was Ralph Renick, renowned news director for Miami’s television station WTVJ, Channel 4.
First “Best Decorated” On Land
For the first time, in 1979, the Christmas Boat Parade Committee added land establishments along the Intracoastal Waterway to the competition for “Best Decorated.”