Happy Paddling Holidays!
(tap or click pic)
HAPPY PADDLING HOLIDAYS!
Kayaking a Parade of Lights (Seminole Winterfest Boat Parade)!
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The Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade has become of the top 20 world-wide parades to see with over ONE MILLION cheering spectators lining up in Ft Lauderdale along the 12 mile route in boats and on shore.
The year 2023 marks what would have been the
However due to prolonged extreme inclement weather the event had to be cancelled. The strong 25 to 35+ knot easterly winds and driving rain have postponed or cancelled all of South Florida’s 2023 Holiday Parades! 😦
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HAPPY PADDLING HOLIDAYS !
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My own Holiday Parade paddling goes back to 1997 with the crew from the “Waterways Kayak” shop in Hollywood, which was then and still remains to this day the biggest kayak pro shop that South Florida has ever seen!
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Happy Paddling Holidays from 1998 with the Waterways Kayak crowd! 🙂
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Late 1990s Winterfest Holiday Parade run with the Banana Boat and Stick or Wing. 😉
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Since moving back to South Florida in 2006, I have paddled the main Winterfest Parade every year except for 2012 when I was photographing and “spectating” in a canoe. The 2020 Winterfest was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and now 2023’s Winterfest also cancelled due to seriously bad weather. The Ft Lauderdale Winterfest Parade route has not changed since 2007 when it was extended to start in downtown Ft Lauderdale rather than by Port Everglades in years prior to that. In 2008 the Parade organizers started placing all non-motorized watercraft at the head of the Parade, instead of the tail end.
So as paddlers,
we are always leading the Winterfest Boat Parade! 🙂
Through the years, the former Kayak Jeff shop in Dania also organized a run of the Parade in 2008. However it was with the South Florida Kayaking Meetup that all the subsequent yearly runs have taken place, and it was at this time that the late Whitney Turner took the helm as organizer along with Kayak Ted. Currently it’s Kayak Ted of the Palm Beach Water Yaks group who organizes the Winterfest Parade paddling event. Ted also organizes paddles of the other two South Florida Holiday Parades, namely in Boca Raton and Pompano Beach. I have had the great pleasure of participating in all the events listed below and owe a debt of gratitude to both of the aforementioned gentlemen! It has also given me much joy over the years to document these events, all the while having fun experimenting with with different photographic techniques for you viewing pleasure!
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Please enjoy and
HAPPY PADDLING HOLIDAYS!
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Holiday waterfront decorations in Ft Lauderdale.
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Ho Ho Ho – Happy Holidays, Florida style!
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“Paddle to Paradise” with Kayak Whitney and Kayak Ted flying the KayakJeff.com shop banner.
Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade flashback to 2008!
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Beautiful colors and lights of the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade!
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS from the South Florida Kayak Meetup crew!
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Watching the Seminole Winterfest Boat Parade procession from kayaks – the best seat in the house!
CLICK for interactive panorama!
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Have you been a good boy / girl ? (choose one)
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Happy Kayaking Holidays South Florida! 🙂
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I’m just sitting here in my kayak watching the boats go round and round.
Ft Lauderdale Seminole Winterfest Boat parade panorama.
CLICK for superwide interactive panorama!
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Watching the Boca Raton fireworks show in my kayak.
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This one goes out to you Kayak Whitney. Paddle ON!
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Kayak Ted : “The Boat Parade is coming, the Boat Parade is coming!”
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“The Grinch“!
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Whipped It Good – Winterfest Boat Parade 2018!
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Winterfest Boat Parade and Ft. Lauderdale are you ready for this?
Aliens – check, Sombrero – check, Holiday spirit – check!
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Are we not paddlers? We are DEVO !!
Image from GRAPEK Photography Online used by permission.
Whipped It Good – Winterfest Boat Parade 2018!
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Santa is off and paddling into Boca!
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Kayak Ted styling with Rudolph leading the way in the Pompano Holiday Parade!
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Paddling CLOUD9 on the 2020 Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade!
Great photo provided by RG Iossi of fksa.org, used by permission.
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Rudolph enjoying the 2022 Winterfest Christmas Parade.
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A kayaker’s Holiday tribute to the humble and versatile Sombrero!
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The South Florida Holiday Parade paddling events:
Prior to 2013 all the previous Parade runs were condensed into my original story:
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More on paddling the main Winterfest Parade:
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! Bless UP
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© 2023 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com
All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.
All rights reserved!
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The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
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I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
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With that said..
Blessings friends!
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