Boats festooned with dazzling arrays of lights participated in the inaugural Stamford Harbor Parade of Lights on a chilly but calm evening on November 25th. The parade of lights, organized by Andy Liljequist and Dick Gildersleeve of Stamford, attracted thirty sailboats and powerboats – and a kayak! - and was viewed by more than a thousand spectators. In addition to their impressive light displays, many paraders serenaded onlookers with holiday music - one boat had a live band. Another boat played B.B. King's ''Merry Christmas, Baby,'' while the P.A. system aboard Windpath Fractional Sailing’s Catalina rocked the entire harbor.
Awards were presented in four categories. Constant Dilemma, owned by Bill Frenz, won ''Most Original.'' Guitarist Frenz and other musicians performed Chuck Berry’s ''Run, Run, Rudolph'' as a couple danced on the foredeck. ''I don’t want to hear that [song] again until next year,'' Frenz laughed. There was a tie for ''Best Decorated'' boat. Mike’s Castle, a houseboat owned by Mike Donofrio (he drove her all the way from the Housatonic River for the parade!) shared the honor with Season’s Reason, the one-night name of Heart's Desire, a C&C 35 owned by Allen Lovejoy of Old Greenwich. Lovejoy's daughter Avery, a senior at Washington and Lee University, quipped, ''I put my art major to good use.''
An impromptu award for ''Most Courageous'' was given to kayaker Kevin Blagys, who received by far the loudest applause as he paddled to the dock at the Crab Shell restaurant for the post-parade festivities. Blagys' boat, including the paddle shaft, was adorned with lights, and Maureen Boylan, the evening's emcee, commended the plucky paddler for his idea to ''put a car battery in a kayak and light the whole damn thing up.''
The prize for ''Most Outrageous Vessel'' was claimed by the staff of a certain Long Island Sound sailing magazine, who mounted a 10-gauge racing start cannon (borrowed from the Housatonic Boat Club) on the foredeck of a Beneteau 473 loaned by Sailing Specialties. The plan had been to fire a single round to start the parade at 1800 hours, but with forty minutes of parading and a full box of 'poppers,' who could resist? The cannoneers, assisted by Jack Heiden (10) and his brother Ben (6) kept up a booming fusillade for the cheering spectators who lined the shore.
Next year’s Stamford lighted boat parade on November 24th will surely be bigger and more outrageous. Check stamfordboatparade.com. Don’t miss it!
November 26, 2006
A boatload of lights
Holiday parade sparkles in debut
By Doug Dalena
Staff Writer, The Advocate
STAMFORD -Last night's holiday boat parade - Stamford's first - didn't have the marching bands and the massive flying balloons of downtown's more well-known spectacle, but it certainly had something for everyone.
There was the working lighthouse on a boat named for a castle, Santa Claus dancing with a couple of mini-skirted elves on a cabin cruiser, and a thrown-together band playing "Run Run Rudolph" on the stern of another boat while a couple two-stepped on the forecastle.
The parade of lights was the brainchild of Andy Liljequist and Dick Gildersleeve, neighbors in the Stamford Landing condominiums, Waterside businessmen and boaters. Liljequist manages the Avalon building on the harbor; Gildersleeve is a partner in the Crab Shell restaurant, where the parade ended last night.
On the way from Czescik Marina to the west branch of the harbor, 31 vessels teeming with lights, revelers and good cheer passed impromptu cocktail parties on boats, in waterfront condominiums and on patches of high ground.
After rounding the southern tip of Kosciuszko Park, each boat paraded past the public pier that extends from the Avalon complex to the edge of the navigation channel. From the pier, nearly 200 onlookers cheered each floating decoration, from the live Christmas tree on the bow of one boat to the neck-bobbing reindeer on another.
Parents held children aloft to see over the rails while couples cuddled on a chilly, becalmed evening.
Later, as the grog and hot chocolate flowed at the Crab Shell, parade goers mingled with boat owners on the boardwalk.
Awards were given in four categories. The most outrageous vessel was the yet-to-be-named-or-sold sloop loaned by Waterside's own Sailing Specialties to Windcheck, a Bridgeport sailing publication, for its frequent firing of a racing start cannon throughout the parade.
Most original went to Constant Dilemma, the boat with the band and dancers.
"Forty minutes I played ‘Run Run Rudolph,' " said vessel owner and guitarist Bill Frenz. "I don't want to hear that again till next year."
There was a tie for best decorated, between Mike's Castle, owned by Mike Donofrio, which carried the lighthouse made of lights, and Season's Reason, the one-night name of the C&C '35 normally called Heart's Desire, owned by Allen Lovejoy of Old Greenwich.
"I put my art major to good use," said Lovejoy's daughter, Avery, a senior at Washington and Lee University.
Organizers even made up an extra award, most courageous, to recognize the Kevin Blagys, the kayaker who decorated his boat and his paddle with Christmas lights and propelled himself along the entire parade route.
Maureen Boylan, the evening's emcee, said Blagys deserved something for having the guts "to put a car battery in a kayak and light the whole damn thing up."
His courage didn't end there. He had to paddle back.
©2006 Southern CT Newspapers, Inc.
CONTACT:
Dick Gildersleeve - cell 203-904-5776
Andy Liljequist - cell 203-667-3546 - Parade Organizers
Lighting Up Stamford Harbor:
Holiday Parade of Lights
A new tradition begins in Stamford Harbor. A holiday parade of lighted and decorated vessels of sail, and power, recreational and commercial, individuals and organizations will parade through out the Stamford Harbor.
The vessels will rendezvous at 6 pm in the East branch of the harbor at Czescik Marina. The boats will then parade down the east branch, turn around and head towards the Stamford Yacht Club. The boats will then proceed down the West branch passing the viewing stand at Avalon Pier and ending at the Crabshell Restaurant at Stamford Landing.
Awards and festivities will be given for Best Decorated and Most Original vessels. Vessels of any size are welcome and there is no cost to participate. There are a number of great places to view the event.
Andy Liljequist, event founder and Mgr. of Avalon Marina said he participated in the Mystic, CT. parade last year and had so much fun, he felt that Stamford should have it’s own parade. We’re looking to start something that will grow from years to come.
Dick Gildersleeve, event founder and owner of the Crab Shell Restaurant, said the purpose is to create a fun event on the harbor. It’s an event after Thanksgiving and is an enjoyable way to ease into the holidays. Both men feel it offers a comraridie on the water amongst friends and neighbors.
Boaters can still register their boats the day of the parade. Weather you’re a boater or not, either side of the channel will provide great viewing. Free hot chocolate and apple cider will be provided for the kids at the Crab Shell restaurant.
For more information and applications, call Andy or Dick at the number provided above. Applications can be down loaded directly from the Crab Shell website at: www.crabshell.com
Have fun decorating your boats and SEE YOU ON THE WATER
Lighting Up Stamford Harbor
The Mystic, CT Holiday Boat Parade has become so popular, Andy Liljequist and Dick Gildersleeve are launching a parade in Stamford on November 25th.
On Saturday, November 25, 2006, a new tradition begins in Stamford Harbor. A holiday parade of lighted and decorated vessels - sail and power, recreational and commercial, individuals and organizations - will parade throughout Stamford Harbor. Celebrate the holiday season by decorating your boat and joining in the fun!
There are a number of great places to view the event. Vessels will rendezvous at 6pm in the eastern branch of the harbor by the Czeisic Marina. The boats will then parade down the eastern branch and around to the western branch of the harbor and pass the review stand on the Avalon fishing pier. The parade will end in front of the Crab Shell Restaurant at Stamford Landing, where festivities will continue and awards will be given for Best Decorated and Most Original. Vessels of any size are welcome, and there is no cost to participate. Call Andy Liljequist at 203-359-6666 or Dick Gildersleeve at 203-904-5776 for an application and any questions you may have.
''My wife and I participated last year in Mystic and had so much fun that we thought Stamford should have its own.We look to start something that will grow for years to come,'' said Andy Liljequist, event founder and Manager of Avalon Marina and Sailing Specialties at Stamford.
The Stamford Parade is modeled after the successful lighted Holiday Boat Parade held by the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce which is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving and offers an enjoyable way to ease into the holiday season.
The purpose is to create a fun event on the harbor. Either come with your decorated boat or to watch from shore.