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Christmas Boat Parade Bermuda
The grand boat parade held once in every two years in December is one of the largest events in Bermuda and marks the beginning of Christmas holiday celebrations in the island. The event is held in
Hamilton Harbor over a 2 mile circular route.
It was first started in the year 1998 when over 90 boats participated. Boats of all types whether sail boats or motorized, expensive yachts or small Boston whalers all participate in this parade. It is also a competition. Thousands of people watch this specter from all along the shoreline.
The boats and yachts are dressed up in colorful decors with lights and in various themes. Themes are independently chosen by the crew of the boat. Some of them also play music on board. The crew members of the boats dress up in colorful costumes as well.
The route of the parade is around the Hamilton Harbor. The parade starts from a pre-determined point on the route like the
Hamilton Princess Hotel or the
Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. Then they start moving clockwise at a speed of 4 miles per hour and some 100 feet from the shoreline.
After moving parallel to Front Street the parade takes a turn at the foot of the Hamilton Harbor, then moves along the shoreline of Paget parish. At Darrel's Wharf it crosses over to return to the Hamilton Princess Hotel. There are several marker boats on the way at turning points that flash orange lights marking the route of the boat parade.
The event ends with grand fireworks that takes place from the center of the harbor. There are prizes for many categories including the overall best boat, best sailboat, best fishing boat, best boat under 25-foot and over 25-foot, best use of lights and many others.
Families and children from all over the island come and watch this grand spectacle. The boat parade usually starts at 6:30pm in the evening. Most of the vantage points start getting filled up from 5pm onwards.
The best places to watch the boat parade?
You can actually watch this event from any point on the shoreline of Hamilton harbor like the harbor road of Paget parish,
Front Street of Hamilton City, waterfront on the
Pitts Bay Road etc.
However some of the special vantage points include the top of Cavendish Heights or Bostock Hill, the
Albouys Point and Flag Pole at Hamilton City.
The terrace of the Hamilton Princess Hotel is also an excellent place to watch the boat parade. This terrace gets filled up long before the parade starts. They also run an audio commentary here so that you know about the boats passing by.
Many tourists book the harbor-facing rooms in the hotel to watch the boat parade from their rooms. Another favorite place of mine is the upper floor balcony of a restaurant on Front Street overlooking the harbor.
About the Author
By Raj Bhattacharya
Raj has been writing about Bermuda since 2008, when he launched bermuda-attractions.com, one of the longest-standing independent guides to the island. A Certified Bermuda Specialist (Bermuda Tourism Authority), his work draws on personal visits, local contacts in Bermuda, and questions and trip reports from thousands of readers over the years.
Learn more about Raj Bhattacharya
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