For the second year in a row, the Hernando Beach Boat Parade consisted of close to 30 boats adorned with Christmas lights and decorations. Organized by the Hernando Beach Yacht Club, the highlight of this year’s parade was a Toys For Tots drive, which literally “netted” five truckloads of toys and gifts for disadvantaged kids.
Trailing the parade were two “Toy Boats,” which collected toys from the docks of residents who donated to the Toys for Tots campaign. Volunteers on collection boats used long-handled nets to retrieve the toys from docks they could not easily reach, so the toys didn’t end up in the drink. Hernando Beach resident Frank Santo said accolades for the toy collection boats were astounding, and that some residents called it their favorite part of the parade.
Boats in the parade also contributed to the Toys for Tots donation drive as the entry fee to participate in the boat parade was a new, unpackaged toy to donate to the program.
Santo participated in the parade, and credited a number of neighbors in uniting to assist each other with boat preparation and decoration, boat staging and during the parade itself.
Winners of the 2020 Boat Parade were:
#10 – Jason Golemba – Best Lighting
#17 – Frank and Gretta Santo: Most Original
#31 – Greg Fenton: Most Holiday Spirit
Thank you Frank and Gretta Santo for inviting us, and Marina Rose LLC for your hospitality! Photos shown in the order of their appearance.
