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)
