The Wandering Disciple

North Port Fire-Rescue's Truck 82 helps spread the Christmas joy by leading the 2010 Poinsettia Parade.  (Photo: December 11, 2010)

Venice, Florida: The intercoastal waterway was filled with colorful Christmas lights as the 2015 Venice Christmas Boat Parade took to the waters. Occurring the first Saturday of December, the annual event helps ring in the holiday season in a tropical fashion as the decked out boats travel down the waterway in bright holiday lights. Thousands of visitor line the parade route which extends from the Albee Road Bridge to the Circus Bridge at the south end of the island of Venice. The parade started back in 1989 and has become a popular holiday attraction on the west coast of Florida. Each year, thousands of people flock to the water bank to catch a glimpse of these brightly decorated vessels. The results for the 28th Annual Venice Christmas Boat Parade are as follows: 29 and Under  1st # 32 Traditions 2nd #4 Thunderstruck 30-39  1st #8 Snowman 40& over  1st #1 Trust No One 2nd #35 Knot-T-Boyz Service, Club , Commercial  1st #14 Paradiso 2nd...

While some people enjoy their Christmas parades to ring in the holiday, Venice has a tropical way to say hello to the holidays. The Venice Christmas Boat Parade kicks off at 6pm along the Intercoastal Waterway stretching from the Albee Road Bridge to the Circus Bridge. I will be covering this years event for the parade committee and will have photos coming soon. (Photo: December 1, 2012)

Ronald McDonald helped spread some Christmas cheer along the parade route during the 41st annual Venice Holiday Parade.  The annual event kicks off the holiday season on the Suncoast.   Be sure to check back later for more photos from tonight's parade.  (Photo: November 26, 2016)

Englewood, Florida: The holiday season was ushered into Old Englewood as the 2014 Englewood Community Christmas Parade took to the streets.  The annual parade of festive floats leads the way as Santa arrives in Englewood. The parade began at Veteran's Park along the bay and headed along Dearborn Street through the heart of Old Englewood. The evening was filled with festivities including choral concert and tree lighting ceremony. Click on the photo above to view more photos from the parade in my 2014 Englewood Community Christmas Parade photo gallery .

Tow Mater makes his way along the parade route during the 2014 Venice Holiday Parade.  Tow Mater inspired by the Disney-Pixar Cars franchise was one of several Hollywood cars in the parade by Ideal Classic Cars.  (Photo: November 29, 2014)

Santa Claus closes out the Venice Holiday Parade, kicking off the holiday season.  The two hour parade through the island of Venice is the official kick-off of the area's holiday festivities.  (Photo: November 29, 2014)

Venice, Florida:  Thousands of spectators lines the streets of downtown Venice for the annual Venice Holiday Parade.  The parade featured over two hours of floats and performers showcasing the holiday spirit. The evening of festivities kicked off at 5 pm with live entertainment along the parade route.  All the entertainment led up to the main event, the parade which started at 7.  Several hundred participates packed this years parade which started on Venice Avenue near Park Avenue and continued through the city until reaching the community center. The annual parade takes place after Thanksgiving and signals the start of the holiday season. Click on the photo to view more photos from the 2014 Venice Holiday Parade .

Sarasota, Florida: A large crowd of spectators lined Main Street on Veteran's Day for the annual Sarasota Veteran's Day Parade.  The annual event pays tribute to our nation's veterans. Several thousand performers marched in the parade that started at Osprey Avenue and traveled down Main Street to JD Hamel Park.  Among the marchers were the Sarasota Police Department, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, Sarasota Military Academy, Sarasota High School band and JROTC, Riverview High School band, Booker High School cheerleader and JROTC Venice Middle School band and junior Marines, and the Vietnam Brotherhood to name a few.  But the highlight of the parade were the veterans ranging from World War II through the wars in the Middle East. At the conclusion of the parade, there was a memorial service at JD Hamel Park. Click on the photo above to view my 2014 Sarasota Veteran's Parade photo gallery .

The Main Street Philharmonic band passes in front of Cinderella Castle during the Main Street Family Fun Day Parade.  Featured during the Year of a Million Dreams promotion, the parade featured chosen park guests to participate in the patriotic parade down Main Street USA.  (Photo: March 28, 2007)

Monsters Inc stars Sulley and Mike Wazowski wave to the crowds along the parade route at Disney's Hollywood Studios during the Disney Stars and Motor Cars parade. The parade ran from 2001 through 2008. (Photo: March 27, 2007)

Venice, Florida: After dodging the cancellation bullet, the supporters and performers of the Venice Christmas Boat Parade showed up in large numbers to shine brightly in the night sky. Several thousands spectators lines the banks of the Intercoastal Waterway in Venice to watch the 25th annual parade. The parade was almost cancelled this year due to lack of support, but supporters of the event rallied and the parade took place. The annual parade has been entertaining Venice on the first Saturday of December since 1989. The parade starts at the public boat ramp at Casey Key. It continues through the Jetty before coming to an end near the Circus Bridge. At the conclusion of the parade route, the boats are judged and awards are given in multiple categories. Forty-six boats participated in this years event. Click on the photos above to view the participants and the winners in my 2013 Venice Christmas Boat Parade photo gallery .

Almost 50 colorful boats lined the intercoastal waterway in Venice for the 25th annual Venice Christmas Boat Parade. (Photo: December 7, 2013)

Venice, Florida: With Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday behind us, thousands of spectators lined the streets of Venice to kick off the holiday season with the 37th annual Venice Holiday Parade. Spectators braved the brisk November weather to watch over a hundred performers march in this years parade. The festivities kicked off at five with a celebration that filled the air with holiday music and lit up the sky with lights as the Venice Avenue merchants lit up their holiday displays. Then at 7, the parade began its journey down the parade route. The adventure began on Park Avenue and headed down Venice Avenue, entertaining the crowd all the way to the Venice Community Center. Several thousand entertainers representing over 120 organization comprised the parade. The parade was sponsored by the City of Venice and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Click on the photo above to view the 2012 Venice Holiday Parade photo gallery .

Englewood, Florida: Every year while the nation celebrates the Labor Day holiday, the town of Englewood celebrates its birthday with a weekend long festival called Pioneer Days. The event culminates with a parade through historic downtown Englewood on Monday morning. Several hundred spectator’s lined the street to watch the decorated floats of this year’s parade. The theme of the 56th annual Pioneer Days Parade was “Hats Off to Englewood”. Englewood Pioneer Days was started in 1956 by newspaper write Josephine Cortes to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first pioneer settlers to Englewood. Over the years, the event has transformed to a weekend long event to help conclude the end of the traditional summer season. Click on the photo above to view the photo gallery from the 2012 Englewood Pioneer Days Parade .

Venice, Florida: A crisp December night led the way to a great night of holiday festivities for the annual Venice Christmas Boat Parade. Thousands of spectators lined the banks of the waterway to watch the lighted boats travel the parade route. The parade of boats begins at the southern end of Casey Key and travels south through the Intercoastal Waterway until reaching the Venice Airport. Forty seven vessels participated in the 23rd annual event with awards given in five categories; Best in Show, Best Under 30’, Best 31’-39’, Best 40’ or larger and Best Commercial entry. The Venice Christmas Boat Parade takes place annually on the first Saturday in December. The event got started in 1989 and has grown since. The proceeds from the parade go towards youth activities and scholarships. Click on the photo above to see pictures from the 2011 Venice Christmas Boat Parade .

Englewood, Florida: Hundreds of people lined the streets of Old Englewood for the annual Pioneer Days parade on a sunny Labor Day morning. Over eighty entries traveled down the parade route, entertaining the spectators along the way. The theme of this year's parade was the Spirit of Englewood. The annual Labor Day extravaganza kicked off on Saturday with a weekend long schedule of family fun. A cardboard boat race, dance, fishing derby and many more events led up to Monday's parade and festival. The event is in its fifty fifth year as it originated in 1956 by Josephine Cortes. It was started to commemorate the first settlers to Englewood in 1896. The event was later moved to the Labor Day weekend and has grown each and every year. Click on the photo above to view the photo gallery from the 2011 Pioneer Days Parade .

North Port, Florida: Christmas is fast approaching and that was never more evident in North Port than Saturday night along North Port Boulevard for the annual holiday parade and festival. Spectators lined the parade route that began at the north end of North Port Boulevard and traveled down to Dallas White Park for the festival. The theme of this year’s Poinsettia Parade was “Magical Night of Lights”. The parade had over 60 participants all showing their holiday spirit in an attempt to entertain the crowd and take home one of four awards. At the conclusion of the parade route was the Poinsettia Festival. The festival had live entertainment, great food and even snow to play in. The parade and festival occurs each year to celebrate the holiday season. Click on the photo above to view photos from the 2010 Poinsettia Parade .