49th Annual Christmas Boat Lane Parade, Clear Lake, TX

<h4>Saturday, December 11, 2010 </h4>
6:00 pm

Ring in the holidays with this Clear Lake tradition. More than 100,000 people traditionally enjoy this event from land and from hundreds of boats anchored throughout the Lake* The parade features more than 100 brightly decorated power and sailboats that will traverse the Clear Lake channel from the South Shore Harbour Marina and the Nassau Bay Lagoon to Galveston Bay.

I'll also have my pre-party on Friday, December 10th starting at 7:00 p.m. BYOB and chair, snacks if you like. Jerry Diaz will be playing live and we'll all have a great time! Pier 15, slip 39, South Shore Harbour Marina. 2500 South Shore Blvd., League City, TX.

I remember in 1981, about the 20th iteration of the Clear Lake Christmas Boat Parade, when the parade boats mustered in the just under construction South Shore Harbour Marina. Some of the piers in front of the north town houses were drug up on the bank to installed later.

1981 was before the Texas Oil Recession and everyone had money. If you didn't sponsor an unlimited hydroplane for the Clear Lake races or own a helicopter you were not sh**.

Someone who shall remain nameless decided to lift a unlimited hydroplane (without the engine) on top of a 50' Gibson houseboat and enter it in the parade. Santa was to sit in the hydroplane and wave as the parade passed by.

About 5 PM on parade day a screaming "Norther" came through. Boats circled around inside the marina waiting to get in line to head toward Seabrook. When the line of boats left the marina they were heading roughly North. When they reached the main Clear Lake channel they turned right with the now very strong north wind on their beam.

When the hydroplane/housboat combo with Santa up top got beam to the wind it leaned so far over that Santa fell out into the lake.

Santa started screaming that he was drowning. "Someone please save me" he said.

Then "Someone" yelled "stand up you idiot" and he did. After the norther the water was only 3-4 feet deep.

This story is no BS, but true.

-- Edited by Doc on Tuesday 19th of October 2010 01:09:03 PM

Hahaha! I believe every word! I've been sitting on the bottom in the slip 3 hours before the parade, then the tide came in enough to make the parade with my 4.5' draft. Many, many fun and crazy stories after my 19 years in the parade.

One of the best was getting to hear Red Adair tell personally about the first one when he, Jack Campbell and three other boats did the first one. He told us they were basically all drunk, did the parade then got lost in the fog with their 5 boats.

Norther coming through Sat. night. Forecast: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Windy, with a north wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to between 25 and 30 mph. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Geez! I hope that all happens AFTER the parade!

In the meantime, we have a big party tomorrow night on the pier. South Shore Harbour marina, pier 15, slip 39. Live music starts at 7:30 p.m. BYOB and chairs!

I am thinking the front will not come through until later in the evening....I hope!!! I/we will see you tomorrow!

Well, the front came through right in the middle of the parade. Wind kicked up to 25 or so, but the parade was one of the smoothest I've ever been in for my 20 years of doing these. Started out with a long sleeved T-shirt and shorts, but had to get the hoodie on later.

Everything was perfect until RIGHT before we got to the judges. I turned the stereo up just a notch but that was enough to blow the breaker for the music and the upper deck lights. Didn't realize what it was until after we were past the judges. The did get to see us on the way back and were kind to us. Even with all the problems we got a 1st place in our category, Family power 42' and up.

Next year is the 50th anniversary of the Clear Lake boat parade, and that Campbell trophy (for best in parade) is mine, bitches!