By By MIKE VOSS
Contributing Editor
Christmas-related events abound in the coming days, including the seventh-annual Christmas Flotilla on Washington’s waterfront Saturday.
The Christmas Flotilla, which begins at 6 p.m., will be preceded by a community sing-along, led by a quartet, featuring Christmas carols and holiday songs. The sing-along begins at 5:30 p.m. In addition to the parade of boats, Santa Claus is expected to arrive on a yacht. The event is organized and presented by Downtown Washington on the Waterfront.
“The last I heard, we had 11. We’re hoping to have 20 entries,” said Kim Williams, chairwoman of this year’s flotilla, in a brief interview Saturday.
Williams said it’s not unusual for entries to register for the flotilla at the last minute. She’s confident the flotilla will have at least 20 entries.
A Marine Corps honor guard will be on the flotilla’s lead boat, Williams confirmed. The reviewing stand will be located on the waterfront promenade between Respess and South Market streets.
Judges for this year’s flotilla are Mayor-elect Archie Jennings, artist Jeffrey Jakub and Jean Thompson, owner of Cat Bamboo. The masters of ceremonies will be Roger Tuttle, a former NBC announcer and personality, and Jim Howard, a meteorologist with WITN-TV, the area’s NBC affiliate.
David Emmerling, executive director of the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation, said PTRF kayakers will return as participants in this year’s flotilla with another unique display. Last year, the kayakers decorated their kayaks with lights that spelled out holiday messages as they paddled past the crowd along the waterfront.
As in past year, Toys for Tots will be the lead charity for the event. Toys for Tots donation boxes have been set up in 24 locations in Beaufort County. Unwrapped toys should be placed in the boxes. Members of the Marine Corps will be at the flotilla to accept the donated toys.
Last year, the Toys for Tots drive in Beaufort County resulted in more than 1,000 needy children receiving toys.
The Pamlico Sail &Power Squadron, a unit of the U.S. Power Squadron, will oversee flotilla operations to ensure safety.
Prizes will be awarded to the most-original entry in the power division and the most-original entry in the sail division, along with prizes going the boat deemed as most festive in each of those divisions. This year, for the first time, there will be a category for boats less than 22 feet long.
A reception for captains of boats entered in the flotilla will be held Thursday at Park Boat Co. Free overnight dockage for vessels participating in the flotilla is provided by the city of Washington.
Last year, 21 boats decorated with about 10,000 lights participated in the flotilla, according to DWOW.
For more information about the event, call 252-946-3969.