Launching in 1971, the Winterfest Boat Parade has navigated Fort Lauderdale’s waterways for the past 50 years bringing holiday cheer to millions of viewers by land and by sea!
Timeline
2021
Parade Theme: 50 Years of Hard Rockin’ Fun… Winterfest 2021
Celebrity: Captain Lee (Bravo’s Below Deck)
Jr. Captain of the Parade:
Poster Artist: Charles Fazzino
Ornament Designer: Pat Anderson
Continue reading2020
2020 brought the virtual world into primary focus for Winterfest events. During the pandemic, Story time with Santa, Letter for Santa, DIY Videos on cocktails, ornaments, baking and more became the highlights with the theme “Home for the Holidays.” Winterfest spread the holiday cheer with a decorated vessel which travelled throughout Fort Lauderdale, decorating contests and “enter to win” opportunities. Santa took a like vacation prior to the holiday in Greater Fort Lauderdale with Winterfest and Visit Lauderdale able to capture all the excitement on video. WSVN created a television recap of the “Best Show on H2O” with historic video and current highlights such as the Winterfest Foundation Jr. Captain, poster unveil and the Winterfest elves visiting hospitals in the area.
Parade Theme: Home for the Holidays
Virtual Parade with a television show (because of the pandemic)
Celebrity: Captain Lee (Bravo’s Below Deck)
Jr. Captain of the Parade: Dantonio Frazier Jr.
Poster Artist: Nick Scalzo
Ornament Designer: Pat Anderson
Boat Parade Chairman: Mark Swenson
Parade Enhancement: Britt Lanier
Events: Wendy Liebowitz
Future Vision: Ben Wesley
Sponsorship: Rob Kornahrens
Marketing & Communications: Karla Nelson-Thatcher
White Party Chair: Alyssa Lovitt
Volunteer Party Chair: Alice Harry
Ball Chairs: Susan Renneisen and Gregg Snowden
Student Art Chair (Winterfest Foundation): Rosalie Wheatley
Grandstand Chairman: David Greenberger
Control Boat Chair: Terry Delmonaco
Ham Operator Chair: Carol Sjursen
Dock Walker Chair: Jeff Sturgis
VIP Area: Lisa Duke / Heiko Dobrikow
Chairman of the Board: Susan Renneisen
President/CEO: Lisa Scott-Founds
2019
2019 marked the Parade’s 48th year with Brett Michaels as Grand Marshal. Bill Walker from Water Taxi was honored as Commodore and Robyn Vines from Gray Robinson PA as Belle of the Ball. The Parade and White Party had a flare of the Bahamas with Bahamas Tourism and Bahamas Paradise. Emma Sorensen representing Make A Wish graced the Parade as the Jr. Captain with FPL and the Winterfest Foundation. Child Warrior Ambassador, Braulio Hernandez, represented Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Brooke Trace was the Poster Artist. Winterfest was voted #3 in the Top 10 winners in the category Best Holiday Parade by USAToday.
Parade Theme: Best of the 80s
Grand Marshal: Huey Lewis
Celebrity: Captain Lee (Bravo’s Below Deck)
Commodore: Johnny Williams
Jr. Captain of the Parade: Thomas Boegler (rep. The Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital at Broward Health
Child Warrior Ambassador: Sonia Rodriguez Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Belle of the Ball: Alyssa Lovitt
Poster Artist: Raquel Cordon
Ornament Designer: Pat Anderson
Boat Parade Chairman: Mark Swenson
Ball Chairs: Susan Renneisen and Gregg Snowden
Student Art Chair: Rosalie Wheatley
Grandstand Chairman: David Greenberger
Control Boat Chair: Terry Delmonaco
Ham Operator Chair: Robin Terrill and Carol Sjursen
Dock Walker Chair: Jeff Sturgis
VIP Area: Lisa Duke
Captain’s Cup Chairman: Kelly Tortoriello
Carolyn McLaughlin Volunteer Spirits Award Winner: Anne Hunt
Chairman of the Board: Susan Renneisen
President/CEO: Lisa Scott-Founds
2018
2018 brought “Best of the 80s” to the Waterway and goes back in time with Huey Lewis as Grand Marshal. Johnny Williams as Commodore and Alyssa Lovitt as Belle of the Ball. Jr. Captain of the Parade was Thomas Boegler rep. The Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital at Broward Health with Child Warrior Ambassador: Sonia Rodriguez Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Parade Theme: Best of the 80s
Grand Marshal: Huey Lewis
Celebrity: Captain Lee (Bravo’s Below Deck)
Commodore: Johnny Williams
Jr. Captain of the Parade: Thomas Boegler (rep. The Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital at Broward Health
Child Warrior Ambassador: Sonia Rodriguez Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Belle of the Ball: Alyssa Lovitt
Poster Artist: Raquel Cordon
Ornament Designer: Pat Anderson
Boat Parade Chairman: Mark Swenson
Ball Chairs: Susan Renneisen and Gregg Snowden
Student Art Chair: Rosalie Wheatley
Grandstand Chairman: David Greenberger
Control Boat Chair: Terry Delmonaco
Ham Operator Chair: Robin Terrill and Carol Sjursen
Dock Walker Chair: Jeff Sturgis
VIP Area: Lisa Duke
Captain’s Cup Chairman: Kelly Tortoriello
Carolyn McLaughlin Volunteer Spirits Award Winner: Anne Hunt
Chairman of the Board: Ben Wesley
President/CEO: Lisa Scott-Founds
2017
2017 brought “Broadway on Parade” to the Waterway with a little bit of Country. Big & Rich – Grand Marshals with Ken Ortner as Commodore and Eugenia Ellis as Belle of the Ball. Winterfest won USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Award Contest for Best Holiday Parade.
Parade Theme: Broadway on Parade
Grand Marshal: Big & Rich
Celebrity: Captain Lee (Bravo’s Below Deck)
Commodore: Ken Ortner
Jr. Captain of the Parade: Grayson Zrelak – Deliver the Dream
Belle of the Ball: Eugenia Ellis
Poster Artist: April Kirk
Ornament Designer: Pat Anderson
Boat Parade Chairman: Mark Swenson
Ball Chairs: Susan Renneisen and Danielle Dattile
Student Art Chair: Rosalie Wheatley
Grandstand Chairman: David Greenberger
Control Boat Chair: Jim Zimmerman and Terry Delmonaco
Ham Operator Chair: Robin Terrill and Carol Sjursen
Dock Walker Chair: Jeff Sturgis
VIP Area: Lisa Duke
Volunteer Chair: Ginny Miller
Captain’s Cup Chairman: Kelly Tortoriello
Carolyn McLaughlin Volunteer Spirits Award Winner: Bob Parkinson
Chairman of the Board: Ben Wesley
President/CEO: Lisa Scott-Founds
2016
Celebrating 45 Years
2016 brought Mr. Worldwide to the 954. Pitbull reigned as the Grand Marshal for the 45th annual Parade themed “Comics and Cartoons Rockin’ the Night Away.” Below Deck’s Captain Lee became the official Captain of Winterfest. The Black-Tie Ball transformed into a “Cabaret” with performers of the Broadway play. The Family Fun Day promoted a real ice rink with the Florida Panthers. As the year came to a close, USA Today 10Best readers recognized Winterfest as one of the top 10 Best Holiday Parade.
Parade Theme: Comics & Cartoons Rockin’ the Night Away
Grand Marshal: Pitbull
Celebrity: Captain Lee (Bravo’s Below Deck)
Commodore: Doug Jones
Jr. Captain of the Parade: Danielle Moreno – Ann Storck Center
Belle of the Ball: Wendy Liebowitz
Super Hero: John Brant
Poster Artist: Charles Fazzino
Ornament Designer: Pat Anderson
Boat Parade Chairman: Mark Swenson
Ball Chairs: Susan Renneisen and Danielle Dattile
Student Art Chair: Rosalie Wheatley
Grandstand Chairman: David Greenberger
Control Boat Chair: Jim Zimmerman
Ham Operator Chair: Robin Terrill and Carol Sjursen
Dock Walker Chair: Paula Bolender
Parade Judges Chairman: David Mundy
VIP Area: Lisa Duke
Volunteer Chair: Ginny Miller
Captain’s Cup Chairman: Kelly Tortoriello
Carolyn McLaughlin Volunteer Spirits Award Winner: Betty Rejack
Chairman of the Board: Jim Dunn
President/CEO: Lisa Scott-Founds
Poster Artist: Charles Fazzino
With a three-peat, artist Charles Fazzino returns to design the Boat Parade Poster for “Comics and Cartoons Rockin’ the Night Away”
Captain Lee becomes Captain of Winterfest
Below Deck’s Captain Lee becomes the official Captain of Winterfest
Family Fun Day Adds Real Ice Rink
Real Ice Rink becomes part of Winterfest Family Fun Day