Holiday Boat-A-Long ready to set sail in Cape Coral
Cape Coral residents still have an opportunity to take in one of the city’s most popular and festive special events this Saturday evening.
While all land activities have been scrapped due to COVID-19, captains are forging onward for this year’s edition of the Holiday Boat-A-Long.
After being rained out in 2019, the aquatic caravan made up of boats dressed to the nines in lights and holiday garb is set to depart from Bimini Basin once again.
Sea Tow of Cape Coral is coordinating the boat parade on its normal route throughout various canals in South Cape Coral and the Bimini Basin.
“There’s always been a great turnout and we’re hoping to have a good year,” said Sea Tow dispatcher Jody Cook, who remembers attending the event since he was a boy. “It’s absolutely beautiful to see.”
Sea Tow also will be collecting toys, as they do each year, to benefit children in need through Toys for Tots in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers.
The city usually hosts a night of holiday fun to go along with the event that includes live entertainment, refreshments and a movie. This year that won’t be the case.
“For the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare, the City of Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department has decided to cancel the land activities originally scheduled for the Holiday Boat-A-Long on Saturday, Dec. 19 at Four Freedoms Park,” said parks and recreation officials.
It’s a real community affair each time when putting this spectacle on. While registration is preferred, Cook said many local boaters join in because they know the routes from participating year after year. Participants will gather around 6 p.m. before kicking off the festivities at 7.
Organizers estimate anywhere from 120 to 150 boats to light up Cape Coral canals. Cook said the route navigates from Bimini Basin towards San Carlos Canal before making appearances through the San Jose, Rim, Dolphin and Coral canals and back to the start.
Sea Tow usually fills five to six boats with toys to donate during the boat-a-long but are unsure of the turnout this year due to COVID and suggestions to avoid large gatherings. Cook said residents along canals having holiday parties the night of the event would gather large amounts of donations.
“We have one boat that leads the parade behind the Cape Coral Police Department and our others go around the seawalls and people flag us down and bring us the gifts to donate,” Cook said. “With the pandemic and the lack of gatherings I hope we can still have a good amount of toys for the kids.”
For those interested in having their boat in the parade, please register with Sea Tow by calling (239) 945-4820.
Members of the public can drop off toy donations at the Cape Coral Sea Tow location at 3725 Del Prado Blvd. S.
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