JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The St. Johns River lit up with bright lights and holiday cheer Saturday night for the 2014 Community First Jacksonville Light Boat Parade.
Hundreds of people lined up along the river to get a look at the unique displays and watch a fireworks show.
Jacksonville may not have snow, but the city does have lighted boats for the holidays.
"It's fantastic, I've been coming down here for the last six years," said Joseph Dennison, a parade spectator. "I love Jacksonville, love the Landing, love Christmastime."
The family-friendly parade has become a holiday tradition for hundreds who gather along the banks of the St. Johns River to enjoy boats decked out for the holiday season.
The parade featured everything from canoes and kayaks to sailboats and houseboats.
This year's winners were:
- Grand overall: Boat Number 29, The Aries Star, Captain Travis Guthrie
- Private individual under 30 feet:
--1st Place: Boat Number 32, Sandbar Junkie, Captain Steve Farnham
--2nd Place: Boat Number 38, Juz Cruisin', Captain Anthony Thompson - Private individual over 30 feet:
--1st Place: Boat Number 29, The Aries Star, Captain Travis Guthrie
--2nd Place: Boat Number 41, Low Bid, Captain Floyd Flasking - Sailboat:
--1st Place: Boat Number 21, Kara Vela, Captain Jacqueline Welti
--2nd Place: Boat Number 5, At Last, Captain Richard Ortis - Commercial/corporate/organized club:
--1st Place: US Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Boat Number 13, Mayport Division USNSCC, Captain Jesse Moniz
--2nd Place: Up in Smoke BBQ Food Truck, Boat Number 60, Nothing to Beach About, Captain Tom Wilbers
This was the 30th year for the annual event. More than 70 boats took part in the parade.