Special to the Eagle Islanders will take to the waters in St. James City this weekend to participate in the PIne Island Boat Club’s annual Christmas Boat Parade.

Deck the hulls with lights and holly — it’s time for the annual Pine Island Boat Club Christmas Lighted Boat Parade.

The organizers of this year’s parade anticipate that it will be bigger and better than ever as many boat club members as well as non-members have expressed a desire to participate. The parade will take place Saturday, Dec. 19, and all boaters are welcome to decorate their watercraft and join in. There is no restriction to the size of the vessels participating, however, according to Pine Island Boat Club Commander M.H. Schnittger, all boats in the parade must be able to safely navigate through opposing boat traffic as well as execute a 180 degree turn within a 45-foot-wide canal.

Pine Island residents and visitors are encouraged to make their way to the docks and seawalls to enjoy this annual event which is sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit.

All captains will meet at Woody’s Waterside in St. James City beginning at 5 p.m. to obtain an identification number for parade placement, judging and free chili following the parade.

The participating boats will be lined up along the docks at Woody’s and the Low Key Tiki before the parade any time after 4 p.m., and the parade will commence at approximately 6 p.m. The parade route will take boaters from Woody’s and Low Key Tiki south on the Monroe Canal to the end where they will take two right turns into the Cherry Estates main canal. From here, the parade will commence north to the wide canal between Royal Palm Drive and York Road and will then backtrack past the Monroe Canal out into San Carlos Bay. The parade will then turn north into the Henley Canal where it will pass the Waterfront Restaurant. Finally, the boaters will reverse direction taking them out of the Henley Canal where they will be free to return to their home port.

Boaters are asked to decorate their boats in their finest holiday fashion as prizes will be awarded to those who have shown the most effort. The prizes will be in the form of gift certificates from various local merchants which will be awarded for top three best overall decorated boats, two boats will be awarded second place prizes and one for third place. Also receiving awards will be the best decorated small boat, 21-feet or less, as well as awards for best dressed crew and best dressed individual.

Following the parade all captains and their crews will be invited to the award ceremony which will take place at the Low Key Tiki where the chefs at the restaurant will serve up free bowls of homemade chili to the participants.

The sponsors for this year’s Christmas Boat Parade are the Waterfront Restaurant, Woody’s Waterside, Low Key Tiki, York Road Marina, Monroe Canal Marina, Bob and Annie’s Boat Yard, American Legion 136, St. James Auto, Vesuvio’s, Boat Lift U.S., Dominos Pizza, Pork Bellys, Island Grill, Skeeterland Band, Upholstery and Canvas by Helene, L.A. Salon, Max Marine and Little Lilly’s Island Deli.

For more information about the PIne Island Boat Club Annual Christmas Boat Parade, call Frank Donaldson at 560-0128 or visit the Web site at pineislandboatclub.com

The Pine Island Boat Club meets the first Monday of each month beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion in St. James City. Regularly the members organize excursions with boat outings to various places like Picnic Island, Chicklet Island and Cayo Costa. For more information or membership applications, visit the Pine Island Boat Club Web site.