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Lake Lanier Parade of Boats to sail by Sunset Cove on Dec. 10
Spectators may see boats decked out in lights from shore of Lanier Islands
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Parade of Boats
When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10
Where: Sunset Cove, Lanier Islands, 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford
Cost: $50 cruisers; $100 houseboat
More info: lanierpartners.org/events

While many Christmas parades march down Main Street in towns across Northeast Georgia, one group is wading into the water with Christmas floats.

Lanier Partners of North Georgia Inc., a volunteer group of like-minded boaters, businesses and community leaders raising money to serve children, will host the 2016 Lake Lanier Parade of Boats. The event will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, in Sunset Cove off Lanier Islands in Buford.

Fleets may leave their home marina or port after parading by their gas dock and judging area. Each fleet’s progress is tracked as pictures and video are sent to Sunset Cove’s Spectacular Screen.

Registered marinas include Holiday, Holiday-Lazy Days, Aqualand, Baldridge, Habersham, Port Royale, Gainesville and Sunrise Cove. Each home marina or port has an individual winner based on the number of entries. The best decorated for each port wins a trophy.

If the entrant is from a private dock, he or she can join a nearby marina or join the fleets as they head to Lanier Islands.

Fleets parade into Sunset Cove from both directions in Shoal Creek and head to their assigned slip. Slips can be assigned by group, marina or dealership. D Dock (closest to Big Beach) will have slips for the winners from each marina on display.

Registration costs $50 for cruisers and $100 for houseboats. Entry fee includes two souvenir T-shirts, a Captain’s Goodies Box, a reserved boat slip in Sunset Cove and a complimentary bus tour of Lanier Islands Magical Nights of Lights on Dec. 10.

All proceeds will benefit the Hall County Sheriffs Youth Home and Toys 4 Tots.

Spectators may walk the docks to view the boats and decorations. Spectators with a toy will receive a discount gate admission to Lanier Islands.

For more information, visit www.lanierpartners.org/events.