2018 Alafia Lighted Boat Parade announced for Dec. 1
Register now for the parade and chili cook-off
The Rotary Club of FishHawk-Riverview announced the 35th annual Alafia Lighted Boat Parade and Chili Cook-Off to be held on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, and will kick off at 5 p.m. at the Riverview Civic Center, 11020 Park Dr., Riverview. They will start the parade of lighted boats from the U.S. 301 bridge at 6 p.m., and the parade will continue past the Riverview Civic Center to “The Diddy” and then back past the Riverview Civic Center ending at River’s Edge Bar and Grill, 6226 Ohio Ave., Gibsonton, where the award ceremony for the best decorated boats will be held. They are encouraging boaters to put in at Williams Park Boat Ramp, 9425 U.S. 41 S., Riverview, and avoid the Riverview Civic Center (after 3 p.m.) ramp for parking purposes.
There will be a Chili Cook-Off and refreshments ($5 donation to taste the chili) and entertainment with photo opportunity available for the children with Santa. Additionally, this year, the Riverview Civic Center will be presenting a free family holiday-themed movie, which will begin after the second pass of the boats. Also, they are announced that the Brandon South Global Rotary Club will be hosting a gingerbread house competition and silent auction during the boat parade.
Additional parking will be available at the First Baptist Church of Riverview (on the corner of Balm Riverview Road and U.S. 301), and shuttles will run throughout the event from the church to the civic center.
As they are a charitable organization and this event benefits the community, they are looking for sponsors at different levels and lighted boats to parade down the Alafia River. To compete in the boat parade they are asking for a $25 donation from the boater. Boaters do not have to compete to participate in the boat parade. All proceeds from this event will benefit local charities the FishHawk-Riverview Rotary Club supports, along with providing scholarships for local high school students.
If you are interested in participating in the Boat Parade, email Mike Broussard at Michael.broussard@flyinglocksmith.com. For more information, email Jamie Simons at jsimons@pilka.com. More information and all registration forms for the boat parade and chili cook-off, along with the rules, can be found at www.alafiaboatparade.com.