Winterfest, Polar Bear Plunge & Christmas Light Boat Parade
The annual Christmas Light Boat Parade will be held on December 13th.
This now 25 year old tradition, started by then Cherokee Yacht Club owner, Terry Frost, is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet. Current owners, Joe Harwood and Tom McKibben have diligently worked to build participation by not only boat owners and parade participants, but with watch parties, social media, business participation, 2 classes of boat size for competition and television coverage.
A BONFIRE on the shore at Disney State Park is being planned as a watch party area, with many private watch parties being planned.
There will be a competition for boats 35’ and under and boats over 35’. Many businesses have decorated boats to get involved. The benefit for businesses is the opportunity to join in the festivities and have their name in lights with the television coverage that will be done by Discover Oklahoma. This will air on KTUL, Tulsa Channel 8 on December 20th at 11:30 a.m. and KSN, Joplin on December 21st at 5 p.m. There will also be an individual film crew from Citiscape productions on hand to create DVD’s of the Cherokee Yacht Club’s 25 year old tradition. Not only is The Boat Captain and the First Mate invited to a Wine Dinner at Cherokee Yacht Club on Friday, December 12th; Cherokee will provide prizes to individual boat winners.
“The only known Christmas Light Boat Parade in Oklahoma will be the conclusion of a fun filled Grand Lake Christmas Celebration” states Cherokee Yacht Club co-owner, Joe Harwood. “I am excited about this year’s event. “Tom McKibben (co-owner) and I had a vision to bring this great tradition to a higher level this year. It will be a grand day on Grand Lake.”
The day begins with the 15th Annual Polar Plunge at Arrowhead Yacht Club. This event was started in 1999 by Tom McKibben. The Polar Bear Plunge is hosted by Arrowhead Yacht Club and solely to help the less fortunate children in the South Grand Lake Area. The party begins at 11AM with the plunge taking place at 1PM. Bring a donated toy (and yes we take money!) and join us for the “PLUNGE”! ALL proceeds go to South Grand Lakers Helping Children. Over the last decade the Polar Bear Club has helped over 500 families. Along with the “sister“ event, Boats, Bikes, Bikinis and BBQ, $30,000+ is donated yearly to South Grand Lakers Helping Children.
The day’s events are scheduled as such:
Arrowhead Yacht Club 11AM: Party Starts for Polar Bear Plunge
Arrowhead Yacht Club 1PM: Take the Plunge!!
Cherokee Yacht Club (Approximately) 4PM: Christmas Light Boat Parade Participants begin lining up at Cherokee Courtesy Docks. PARASAILING SANTA AND ALL!
Christmas Light Boat Parade begins heading south into Duck Creek and then north to the Dam to meet up with the Disney Christmas Parade.
On land “Watch Parties” are asked to acknowledge the Parade with flashlights as they go by and a tentative social media set is in planning stages for watchers to communicate with the Boat Captains.
All of the day’s festivities will be covered by Discover Oklahoma.
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