Timeline
Commodore: Shane Strum
Grand Marshal: Mario Lopez
Two-time Emmy-winning television host, nationwide iHeartMedia radio host, author, and YouTube superstar, Mario Lopez is the Winterfest Boat Parade’s 50th Anniversary Grand Marshal.
Winterfest Wins Big at the SunSational Awards
Winterfest takes home the gold (and silver and bronze) in multiple categories at the FFEA’s 2021 SunSational Awards!
Winterfest’s 50th
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!
Winterfest Builds a Timeline
As a living document and a virtual home for our 50+ years of history. Add your Winterfest Memory here.
2021
Winterfest Flashback to 2021
“50 Years of Hard Rockin’ Fun… Winterfest 2021”
THE PEOPLE OF WINTERFEST
Grand Marshal: Mario Lopez
Celebrities: Captain Lee (Bravo’s Below Deck), Joey Fatone from NSYNC, Dara Torres (4 time Olympian and Ryan Cabrera.
Commodore: Shane Strum
Belle of the Ball: Renée Korbel Quinn
Jr. Captain of the Parade: Violet Martin on behalf of the Florida Youth Orchestra
Child Warrior Ambassador: Jordan Levy, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Poster Artist: Charles Fazzino
Ornament Designer: Pat Anderson
Continue reading2020
Winterfest Flashback to 2020
“Home for the Holidays”
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 traveled throughout Fort Lauderdale, decorating contests and “enter to win” opportunities.
Santa took a 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.
Virtual Parade with a television show (because of the pandemic)
THE PEOPLE OF WINTERFEST
Celebrity: Captain Lee (Bravo’s Below Deck)
Jr. Captain of the Parade: Dantonio Frazier Jr. – Jack & Jill Children’s Center
Poster Artist: Nick Scalzo
Ornament Designer: Pat Anderson
Boat Parade Chairman: Mark Swenson
Parade Enhancement: Britt Lanier
Chairman of the Board: Susan Renneisen
President/CEO: Lisa Scott-Founds
2020 VIDEOS
All videos produced by WSVN Channel 7 unless otherwise noted.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Winterfest is named Top Three of 100 events in South Florida by BizBash.
Winterfest Goes Virtual
In 2020, with everyone “Home For The Holidays,” WSVN creates a television recap of the “Best Show on H2O” with historic video and current highlights.
Poster Artist Nick Scalzo
If a picture is worth a thousand words, here’s four: “Home for the Holidays.” Nick Scalzo designs the poster for Winterfest 2020.