Links to the 2022 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Digital interviews and event highlights captured by EyeOnSouthFlorida. To see current and past videos: https://eyeonchannel.com/?s=winterfest
2022 INTERVIEWS during Winterfest Events:
Winterfest
Winterfest Brings The Holidays Home!
November 18, 2020
The Organizers of Winterfest, Producers of the Signature Event, The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, brings “Home for the Holidays” with Decorating Contests, Virtual Events, Pop Up Santa Sightings, Holiday Cheer Light Cruises, and More as a countdown to the Annual Holiday Television Special
It was a very difficult decision to pause the “World’s Most Watch Boat Parade” for 2020, but that did not stop the organizers of Winterfest from reinventing this year’s holiday season. The team may not be able to produce the famous Parade in December; however, they are committed to bringing community cheer with the theme, “Home for the Holidays.”
“This has been a very emotional time for all of us,” noted Lisa Scott-Founds, President and CEO of Winterfest, Inc. “The Parade is synonymous with the holidays. We had to weigh the safety of everyone onshore as well as the water. The event would create “gatherings” in public and private areas with little or no control regarding social distancing, and mask-wearing. What would those optics look like and how would that be perceived? It was decided by the Winterfest Board of Directors, as well as a few of our major sponsors, that the safety of the community was the main priority. As the area businesses open up, there is a tear that we are not the finale celebration for this difficult year. We may not have live events, but our calendar is full of holiday events and activities for everyone to enjoy.” Winterfest is asking the community to help spread the warm and positive feelings of the holidays by decorating and submitting a photo. Simply visit the https://winterfestparade.com/winterfest-decorating-contestto upload your images OR upload them on social media using the hashtag: #winterfestdecor on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. We want everyone to show their lights! When you enter on social media, include your social media handle, a brief description, and a shout-out where your amazing decorations are located (business name, for residents – your city, state … No exact location unless you want people to drive by and gawk!) If you decorated it – we want to see it (boats, homes, businesses, interior/exterior parts of your home … holiday tree, room, dock, balcony, porch, etc.)! Lots of great prizes will be given out including a $500 Bloomers Frosé Basket to the photo with the most votes in select categories. A few over the top entries will receive the “Griswold Award” which will be selected by the president of the Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors®, Jarrod K. Lowe. We even have a contest for the cutest holiday pets! Voters, we didn’t forget about you – Vote starting November 28th and you’ll be entered for a chance to win round trip travel on Southwest Airlines®.
Are you out and about? Enjoy the Holidays with Winterfest aboard Holiday Lights Cruises on a special decorated Water Taxi or download the Winterfest App to see where Santa will be from November 27th to December 24th as he vacations in Fort Lauderdale. Want to getaway? Check out Winterfest’s Social Media and Crown Wine & Spirits locations and enter to win a two-night stay at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, dinner for (2) two, Southwest Airlines tickets and more. Click on https://winterfestparade.com/contests for all the details on how to enter!
Looking to snuggle more on your comfy couch? Winterfest makes Holiday Shopping, baking, DIY ornament crafting easy with a click to our website. Your family can even enjoy Santa in your home virtually. This year, Storytime with Santa is a Winterfest virtual experience with the first 100 children that are registered receiving a copy of the book Santa will be reading so kids may read along.. The sight will have the link to see Santa read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas on December 5th. A list of all the holiday excitement is on the Winterfestparade.com site under “2020 holidays.”
And what would Winterfest be without the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade? On December 19th, 25th and 31st, turn on WSVN Channel 7 to watch a trip down memory lane with a retrospective of 49 years of this holiday tradition. For your holiday needs and wishes, go to Winterfestparade.com
For more information on Winterfest, Inc., call 954-767-0686.
Bill Walker as 2019 Commodore
Winterfest® Announces Bill Walker as 2019 Commodore of the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Boat Parade
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL September 12th, 2019 In honor of his dedication to the Parade and community involvement, the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Boat Parade has announced Bill Walker as the 2019 Commodore. Walker, President and CEO of Water Taxi Fort Lauderdale, has been involved as a Winterfest® board member as well as the Winterfest® Boat Committee since 2016, and has had his Water Taxis as Parade entries for over 10 years.
Since acquiring Water Taxi Fort Lauderdale in 2007, Walker and his company of 150 people have created a unique waterway service that has become a signature transportation resource to this area. Before relocating to South Florida, Walker served as the Principal and President at Boston’s Best Cruises. Here he developed a system that included the first high speed bow loading catamarans to be ADA accessible. Now, Walker is an established member of the Marine Advisory Board of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce and the Las Olas Association Board of Directors. CEO of Winterfest® Lisa Scott-Founds said, “Bill’s passion, reliability, and extensive knowledge of maritime has made him the perfect candidate to take the helm as this year’s Winterfest® Commodore”.
Bill Walker will be honored at the Grand Marshal Reception on December 13th. Walker will be a part of the Parade along Fort Lauderdale waterways in true Commodore Style on December 14th, at 6:30p.m.
For more information please contact the Winterfest office at (954) 767-0686 or visit the website at winterfestparade.com.
# # #
About Winterfest, Inc.
Winterfest is a Florida not-for-profit organization based in Broward County that produces a variety of events including the free public event known as the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade – “The World’s Most Watched Boat Parade.” Approximately one million spectators view the Parade on the 12-mile route along with millions more via television and the internet bringing National and International recognition to South Florida. Winterfest also hosts annual events to enhance the community’s image and provide unique, wholesome family entertainment. For more information on Winterfest, please contact the office at (954) 767-0686 or their website: www.winterfestparade.com.
About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is the flagship casino resort of Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It isa world-renowned entertainment, gaming and hospitality destination that features a AAA Four Diamond-rated, 465 room luxury hotel; expansive gaming offerings including first-in-class slots, high-stakes table games and South Florida’s premier poker room; spa and fitness center; award-winning dining and nightlife; and the popular Hard Rock Event Center which hosts celebrity performances, comedy acts and sporting events. A $1.5 billion expansion slated to open October, 2019, will bring 638 new, luxury guestrooms to the first-ever, guitar-shaped Guitar Hotel and 168 upscale guest accommodations, including unique swim-up suites, in the adjacent Oasis Tower at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Upon completion, the property will have a combined total of 1,271 rooms. The project will also unveil a lush, “Bora Bora” style lagoon with private cabanas and butler service; a 42,000 square-foot Rock Spa®; a 13.5 acre recreational water experience for swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding; 19 dining outlets and 20 bars and lounges; an expansive gaming floor housing 3,100 slots, 193 table games and a 45-table poker room; 120,000 square feet of premier meeting and convention space including a 38,000 square-foot, carpeted exhibition hall; and a 26,000 square-foot retail promenade. The highly anticipated Hard Rock Live entertainment venue with a 7,000 person capacity, will showcase A-list entertainers, comedy acts, Broadway performances, sporting events and live broadcast productions. The integrated resort is located on 87 acres of the Hollywood SeminoleReservation along State Road 7, (U.S. Highway 441), and is 10 minutes from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Miami and Miami International Airport. For more information, visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com, call 800-937-0010 or follow us: Facebook: SeminoleHardRockHollywood, Twitter: @HardRockHolly, Instagram: @HardRockHolly
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Kathleen Keleher, Marketing Director
or Amanda Rivera, Winterfest, Inc. Intern
954-767-0686, info @ winterfestparade.com
Website: winterfestparade.com
FB: winterfest.parade
Twitter/Instagram: WinterfestInc
#WinterfestFL
Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Boat Parade Announces Bret Michaels as 2019 Grand Marshal
Fort Lauderdale, FL (August 13, 2019) – Parade Organizers announced today legendary multi-platinum superstar, Bret Michaels, as the Grand Marshal of the 48th Annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Boat Parade on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.
Bret will serve as an ambassador for South Florida’s most acclaimed holiday celebration.
“Bret is one of the most iconic faces of rock-n-roll and we are excited to have him bring his superstar presence to rock Greater Fort Lauderdale,” said Lisa Scott-Founds, President & CEO of Winterfest, Inc. “The added bonus is having him perform at the new Hard Rock Live the night before the Parade as part of his 2019 worldwide Unbroken Tour.”
Michaels’ relentless work ethic has extended him beyond his front man persona in the band “Poison” and his solo career in music. His Michaels Entertainment Group is a multi-million dollar empire. Along with his multifaceted career, he helps to raise millions of dollars for charities through his Life Rocks Foundation. He has partnered with both the American Diabetes Association and Juvenile Diabetes acting as a spokesperson and sponsor.
“Seminole Hard Rock is thrilled to have Bret Michaels serve as this year’s Grand Marshal, kicking off the holiday season in style. His iconic stage personality screams Hard Rock and is sure to shake up the waterways”, said Susan Renneisen, vice president of community affairs and special events for Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL. “As the chairwoman of Winterfest, Inc., I am personally excited to bring such an energetic Grand Marshal to rock this 12-mile Parade.”
Michaels will be a part of a private Winterfest® Grand Marshal Reception on Friday, Dec. 13 prior to his concert at Hard Rock Live at 8 p.m. The public will be able to purchase concert tickets for $70, $50, $40 and $30. All seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at www.myhrl.com and www.ticketmaster.com. The following night, he will appear in the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Boat Parade on Dec. 14. For more information on the Winterfest Celebration and how you can be a participant, visit WinterfestParade.com or call 954-767-0686.
# # #
Editor’s Note: Bio and Hi-Res images https://www.dropbox.com/sh/p9u0p09cwgw22l8/AAC2ChntD4wXV88SVshjIpARa?dl=0.
Unbroken link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAq2hhRF048
About Winterfest, Inc.
Winterfest is a Florida not-for-profit organization based in Broward County that produces a variety of events including the free public event known as the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade – “The World’s Most Watched Boat Parade.” Approximately one million spectators view the Parade on the 12-mile route along with millions more via television and the internet bringing National and International recognition to South Florida. Winterfest also hosts annual events to enhance the community’s image and provide unique, wholesome family entertainment. For more information on Winterfest, please contact the office at (954) 767-0686 or their website: www.winterfestparade.com.
About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is the flagship casino resort of Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It isa world-renowned entertainment, gaming and hospitality destination that features a AAA Four Diamond-rated, 465 room luxury hotel; expansive gaming offerings including first-in-class slots, high-stakes table games and South Florida’s premier poker room; spa and fitness center; award-winning dining and nightlife; and the popular Hard Rock Event Center which hosts celebrity performances, comedy acts and sporting events. A $1.5 billion expansion slated to open October, 2019, will bring 638 new, luxury guestrooms to the first-ever, guitar-shaped Guitar Hotel and 168 upscale guest accommodations, including unique swim-up suites, in the adjacent Oasis Tower at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Upon completion, the property will have a combined total of 1,271 rooms. The project will also unveil a lush, “Bora Bora” style lagoon with private cabanas and butler service; a 42,000 square-foot Rock Spa®; a 13.5 acre recreational water experience for swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding; 19 dining outlets and 20 bars and lounges; an expansive gaming floor housing 3,100 slots, 193 table games and a 45-table poker room; 120,000 square feet of premier meeting and convention space including a 38,000 square-foot, carpeted exhibition hall; and a 26,000 square-foot retail promenade. The highly anticipated Hard Rock Live entertainment venue with a 7,000 person capacity, will showcase A-list entertainers, comedy acts, Broadway performances, sporting events and live broadcast productions. The integrated resort is located on 87 acres of the Hollywood SeminoleReservation along State Road 7, (U.S. Highway 441), and is 10 minutes from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Miami and Miami International Airport. For more information, visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com, call 800-937-0010 or follow us: Facebook: SeminoleHardRockHollywood, Twitter: @HardRockHolly, Instagram: @HardRockHolly
Entry Fees Start At $35
Payment: You may purchase your Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade entry in our online store after you submit your parade application. After your application submission, you will be redirected directly to the Boat Entry Fee in our online store that matches your choice of Vessel Category above. Please enter your vessel name in the “Order notes” field during checkout. It’s an easy step to Holiday FUN!
The types of parade entries and the prices are as follows:
- PRIVATE or NON-PROFIT: $35.00 (NO SIGNAGE or NON-PROFIT Sign ONLY)
- GOVERNMENT: $35.00 (Government signage allowed)
- COMMERCIAL SIGNAGE (ALL signage approved by Winterfest.) Fees are based on vessel size:
- $250.00 20’ to 39’
- $500.00 40’ to 59’
- $1,000.00 60’ +
- CHARTER (ALL signage approved by Winterfest):
- $500.00 20’ to 39’
- $1000.00 40’ to 59’
- $1,500.00 60’ +
- SHOWBOAT (Any vessel with approved signage – Sponsor designation and Guaranteed Television): $8,000.00
All Entry Fees include an 8×10 photo of entry & Two tickets to the Captain’s Cup Awards Dinner in 2021. Additional tickets to the Captain’s Cup Awards Dinner are available in our online store.
Lights Camera Action Movies on Parade Winterfest 2019 – Celebrate the Holidays with Us
Lights, Camera, Action… Movies on Parade is the theme for the 2019 Parade on December 14th. The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade is the “Greatest Show on H2O” with holiday floats that really float. Enjoy your Christmas on the Water or entertain guests on land. Winterfest has tickets for reserved Grandstands seats for only $25-$30 pp. Have a boat? You can enter your vessel for as little as $35 (private entry / no signage). Love to dance? Entertain clients, friends or colleagues with the purchase of a table of 10 at the Black Tie Ball start at only $3,000. Celebrate the holidays with Winterfest in beautiful South Florida and enjoy this holiday tradition which sails from Downtown Fort Lauderdale to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach. Call Winterfest, Inc. for all your Holiday Party needs 954-767-0686 or email us info @ winterfestparade.com
American Beach Party in Fort Lauderdale
Winterfest is proud to call the Greater Fort Lauderdale Area Home! The city of Fort Lauderdale (our founding sponsor) is hosting the biggest Beach Party around.
What are you doing on Saturday, May 25th? Plan on attending the Great American Beach Party featuring the jazz-rock band “Blood, Sweat & Tears!” Details at: www.fortlauderdale.gov/gabp
Winterfest President invited as a panelist at The Summit
Winterfest, Inc. President and CEO, Lisa Scott-Founds was a recent panelist at the 2nd Annual Synergy Summit for Cultural and Heritage Tourism (The Summit). The Cultural Heritage Alliance for Tourism, Inc. (CHAT) in partnership with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (GFLCVB) and Broward Cultural Division is presenting The Summit at the Signature Grand Conference Center. The Riverside Hotel is the host hotel. The two-day Summit (May 10-11, 2919) is the place where tourism, travel & hospitality professionals, small businesses & entrepreneurs, and local artists will gather to communicate and explore synergy for collaboration as well as form strategic partnerships that strengthen and protect Florida’s tourism ecosystem. The Summit will showcase cultural and heritage tourism assets expanding the tourism footprint and economic impact in heritage neighborhoods and multicultural communities. For additional information https://www.culturalheritagesummit.com/
photos: DeAnne Connolly Graham, President of ROI Media Consultants, Inc. with Lisa Scott-Founds, President & CEO of Winterfest, Inc.
chatsummit #cultural #heritage #travel #hospitality #hellosunny #WinterfestFL #Winterfest
@visitlauderdale @browardarts @visitflorida
@WinterfestInc @WinterfestParade
WSVN Signs Five Year Contract Extension with Winterfest®
WSVN Channel 7 recently signed a five-year contract with Winterfest®, Inc. as the official television station of the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Boat Parade. This commitment will continue their support through 2023 with coverage of Winterfest® news, events and broadcasting the Winterfest® Television Special on their station. The television special is rebroadcast on Fox Sports Sun and WSVN’s sister stations WHDH and WLVI in Boston. WSVN also produces a Facebook Live of the Parade which is shared on various social media platforms Parade night. WSVN’s live camera feeds are seen on the City of Fort Lauderdale’s television station, VisitLauderdale.tv and EyeOnSouthFlorida.com who expands the digital viewership across the globe.
This partnership has expanded beyond community outreach and holiday television shows; it has created great benefits for the media station and their clients while adding exposure for the nonprofit organization. Select WSVN clients receive tickets to experience Winterfest® including riding aboard their decorated showboat annually in the Parade. “We are pleased to extend our partnership with the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, “ said Paul Magnes, Executive Vice President/General Manager WSVN Channel 7, a subsidiary of Sunbeam Television Corporation. “ The parade is a beloved South Florida holiday tradition and viewers rely on Channel 7 to feature all the highlights.”
Now in their 48th year, Winterfest® is proud to have community partners such as WSVN to ensure this holiday tradition continues as “The World’s Most Watch Boat Parade.” Corporate support enables this not-for-profit organization to produce free events such as the Parade, Family Fun Day and continue their involvement in the South Florida community.
For more information please contact the Winterfest office at (954) 767-0686 or visit the website at winterfestparade.com.
Winterfest Welcomes New Chair: Susan Renneisen and 2019-2020 Board / Advisory Members
Installation of Winterfest 2019-2021 Chair, Susan Renneisen, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Winterfest Board and Advisory members met after the turnover for the first meeting of the 2019/20 year followed by a get-together hosted by the property.
For a complete list of the Winterfest, Inc. Board and Advisory Members:
https://winterfestparade.com/board-and-advisory-members
CLICK FOR A COPY OF THE PRESS RELEASE