A holiday flotilla is a group of decorated boats taking part in a water parade. Anyone who registers and pays the small entry fee (some events have no entry fees) may participate. The number of vessels varies, but the average is about 25 boats. The owners usually spend weeks planning and preparing for the big day, including rounding up extra generators to accommodate all the lights and animated displays.

Any type of boat is welcome skiffs, pontoon boats, houseboats, fishing trawlers and yachts. While there are some U.S. Coast Guard regulations that must be adhered to, there are virtually no flotilla rules, and almost anyone may participate. The watercraft can be decorated any way the owner sees fit, ranging from a simple light display to an "all-out theme" boat. In fact, the 2004 winner of the Crystal Coast Christmas Flotilla was a skiff featuring a SpongeBob SquarePants display. The great thing about holiday flotillas is that everyone is a winner. This is because there are so many categories such as boats under 15 feet, boats  over 15 feet, and judges' choice affording everyone a chance to win a prize.

But make no mistake; it's not about winning. It's about having a good time, and it's hard not to at one of these events. That's why flotillas are the highlight of the holiday season for many coastal communities. "The biggest weekend of our off-season is the annual flotilla," says Janis Williams, marketing coordinator of the Crystal Coast Tourism Authority.

Every year on the first Saturday of December, a boat parade departs from Morehead City and makes its way to Beaufort. The boats dock at the Beaufort waterfront, and everyone enjoys a huge post-parade party at the North Carolina Maritime Museum and Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center. Up to 8,000 people have turned out to see this impressive flotilla a tradition going back to 1995.

Undoubtedly, the largest flotilla attendance is along the Cape Fear coast. What began in 1984 as a way for locals to celebrate the season with a coastal flair has grown tremendously. In fact, the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla has been rated one of the Top 10 Events in the Southeast by the Southeastern Tourism Society. During its peak, 60 boats participated, and 50,000 spectators came to see it.

At one time, the Cape Fear coast flotilla was one of only three, but nowadays there are seven holiday boat parades in North Carolina. The Wrightsville Beach event remains the biggest party along the coast, drawing anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 visitors. The Blockade Runner Beach Resort has a big celebration, there are numerous private parties, and everyone who knows someone with a boat heads out to the water to see and be seen. The North Carolina Holiday Flotilla is actually an all-day party on the last Saturday in November, culminating with the boat parade and fireworks. The festivities begin in the morning at Wrightsville Beach Municipal Park with music, food, Christmas gifts and crafts, children's rides, and more. The action moves out onto the Intracoastal Waterway around dusk, when a mile-long procession of boats slowly cruise from the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge down along Motts and Banks channels. The perfect ending to this spectacular show is a grand fireworks display that is accompanied by holiday music simulcast over local radio stations.

Flotillas are usually part of a larger holiday celebration. For example, Pleasure Island offers a five-week-long "Island of Lights" celebration, including a holiday parade, a tour of homes, a holiday flotilla, and a New Year's Eve party. The Island of Lights Holiday Flotilla, a joint effort by Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, is always the first Saturday evening in December and features a wide variety of decorated boats cruising the

waterway from Snows Cut to Carolina Beach Basin.

Across the Cape Fear River, Southport and Oak Island sponsor an annual Christmas By the Sea Festival. The first weekend of December includes a land parade and holiday home tour on Oak Island. The second weekend features holiday home tours in Southport and the Southport Christmas By the Sea Holiday Boat Flotilla. The third weekend usually includes a holiday band concert and related activities.

The boats depart from Old Yacht Basin and travel almost all the way down to the ferry landing before turning around and coming back.

The best place for viewing is from Southport Waterfront Park. While waiting for the flotilla to begin, spectators are treated to live music, carol sing-alongs, and skits performed by a local theatrical group. "This is definitely a local favorite a highlight of the holiday season," says Karen Sphar, executive vice president of the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce. While the 1,500 or so attendees may pick which boats they like best, the actual judging will be done by local elementary school students. "They know what they like, and no one can get mad at kids," Sphar declares.

New Bern's Coastal Christmas Flotilla is always held on the first Saturday of December. Santa Claus transported in grand style aboard a Hatteras yacht brings the flotilla to an end, greeting all that await him in Union Point Park.

The Elizabeth City Holiday Celebration and Lighted Boat Parade takes place at Waterfront Park in downtown Elizabeth City on the day after Thanksgiving. The floating procession meanders across Mariners' Wharf on the lovely Pasquotank River.

Since there are no rules for flotillas other than having tasteful decorations, participants can get very creative. Spectators will notice decorated sailboats, rowboats, and even kayaks mixed in among the motorboats. These smaller craft have won prizes for their ingenuity in previous parades, leaving spectators to wonder how they power up their lights without the use of a generator. Electrical concerns aside, the only thing that spectators need to worry about is whether they want hot chocolate or hot cider to keep them warm while they watch the procession.

The Swansboro Christmas Flotilla travels the Intracoastal Waterway from the high-rise bridge at Emerald Isle and down White Oak River on the day after Thanksgiving.

Attendance at this annual water parade has ranged from a low of 500 hardy souls to as many as 12,000, depending on the weather. Swansboro's Front Street provides a perfect viewing platform for seeing both the boat parade and Santa's grand entrance at Port O'Swannsborough.

Holiday flotillas are a wonderful way to celebrate a special time of year. There is nothing quite like the sight of thousands of lights illuminating the night sky and sparkling on the water shining like the very glow of Christmas in each observer's eye.