Palmetto Bay Holiday Boat Parade and Canned Food Drive

You can’t get much more South Florida than heading down a canal with Christmas lights wrapped around your small boat in December.

Rainer Schael (standing)

Throw in the fact that the parade stops along the route to collect canned food for the less fortunate and you have yourself a heartwarming event.

The boat parade is the brainchild of Palmetto Bay resident Rainer Schael and his boat buddies. Started eight years ago, they combined their love of the great outdoors, the holidays and giving back to the community.

I took part in this year’s festivities with boat captain Ray Bettencourt. The parade started at the Coral Reef Park boat launch and ran its way south on the C-100 canal. Hundreds of spectators had parties and provided cans along the way.

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