By Mike Busch

The annual Christmas Boat Parade was held last night on Patchogue River.  Dick Blakeslee, owner of the Oar Steak and Seafood Grill, started the tradition 25 years ago and it grown bigger and better every year.  Dick modeled it after the Fort Lauderdale, Florida version.  The parade is scheduled around Thanksgiving before the weather gets too extreme and people put away their boats for the winter.   I have attended both and like our colder version better because it feels a lot more like Christmas!

Approximately 30 boats entered with this year’s optional theme a cartoon Christmas.

I was positioned at a marina, just north of the Oar a took a few shots and a short video.