It’s often said that Christmas is the time of year when all’s right with the world and people go out of their way to help one another. But in the Lakes Region, there is a way to keep the Christmas spirit alive despite what the calendar may say.
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| Participants have fun during last year's 'Christmas in July' Boat Parade on Brandy Pond in Naples. The 3rd Annual 'Christmas in July' Boat Parade will start about 8:15 p.m. Saturday, July 23 in Naples. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
The more boats that decorate and participate this year, the better, says Robin Mullins, executive director of the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce.
“Have a boat? Decorate it, register it at the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber website, and come join the parade on Brandy Pond,” Mullins said. “There will be prizes awarded for the top-three best decorated boats, as determined by the Naples Board of Selectpersons.”
The annual parade is a Naples Marine Safety Patrol-created event that was first conducted in 2020 with a total of 65 boats participating.
“Naples Christmas in July Boat Parade was started in 2020 by Mark Maroon and Jim Stark of the Naples Marine Patrol as a way to get folks safely out and having fun in the midst of COVID-19,” said Robin Mullins, Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. “They were assisted by community volunteer Joanne Jordan.”
Mullins said that given that volunteers only worked on the event for about three weeks prior to the parade, the turnout of boats was amazing considering pandemic restrictions of the time.
“Boats, captains and the crews were all decked out for the holidays,” Mullins said. “The town selectpersons judged the winning boats, as prizes were given for the best decorated watercraft.”
Last year the number of boats increased significantly, and the event is expected to establish a new record in 2022 for the number of boats and participants.
Mullins said those without boats can find something of interest at the festive parade.
“Don’t have a boat? No worries, come have dinner at one of the sponsor restaurants, such as Brother Flecker’s, Freedom Café, or Gary’s Olde Town Tavern, or do a little shopping at sponsor Causeway Gifts,” she said. “Whatever you do pre-parade, make sure you find a nice viewing spot as the parade makes it way from Brandy Pond onto Long Lake and back starting at around 8:30 p.m.”
She thanked the event’s other Captain’s Club sponsors for their help to make this year’s Christmas in July Boat Parade one of the best ever, including Long Lake Marina, Naples Marina, and Moose Landing Marina, which sponsored last year’s best decorated marina boat.
According to Mullins, the chamber is pleased to partner with Naples in bringing this popular event to the town once again in 2022.
“Our hope is to make it a destination event for Naples,” she said.
“Naples is an important part of the Sebago Lakes Region, and like all of our eight towns including Casco, Gray, Naples, New Gloucester, Raymond, Sebago, Standish and Windham, we want to support them in any way we can.”
To participate in this year’s boat parade, all boats must be registered prior to the event. Registration is available online at https://www.sebagolakeschamber.com/event/christmas-in-july-boat-parade/
“Our hope is to make it a destination event for Naples. Of course, we said, yes. Naples is an important part of the Sebago Lakes Region, and like all of our eight towns including Casco, Gray, Naples, New Gloucester, Raymond, Sebago, Standish and Windham, we want to support them in any way we can.”
To participate in this year’s boat parade, all boats must be registered prior to the event. Registration is available online at https://www.sebagolakeschamber.com/event/christmas-in-july-boat-parade/
“Once again we hope boats come all decked out with tons of holiday decorations,” Mullins said. “There will be prizes for the three top decorated boats, once again voted on by town selectpersons.”
She said that the town of Naples is encouraging nearby businesses and residents of Brandy Pond and the lower end of Long Lake to decorate docks, homes, and waterfront properties to show their solidarity with the “Christmas in July” spirit.
Event organizers say they are grateful for all sponsors for this year’s parade, which has helped to pay for lighted buoys for the event and prizes for parade participants.
The Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce represents the Lakes Region towns of Casco, Gray, Naples, New Gloucester, Raymond, Sebago, Standish, and Windham, and it is one of the most active chambers in the entire state of Maine. The chamber is made up of business members ranging from young entrepreneurs and ‘mom & pop’ shops to the largest employers in the area. <
“Naples Christmas in July Boat Parade was started in 2020 by Mark Maroon and Jim Stark of the Naples Marine Patrol as a way to get folks safely out and having fun in the midst of COVID-19,” said Robin Mullins, Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. “They were assisted by community volunteer Joanne Jordan.”
Mullins said that given that volunteers only worked on the event for about three weeks prior to the parade, the turnout of boats was amazing considering pandemic restrictions of the time.
“Boats, captains and the crews were all decked out for the holidays,” Mullins said. “The town selectpersons judged the winning boats, as prizes were given for the best decorated watercraft.”
Last year the number of boats increased significantly, and the event is expected to establish a new record in 2022 for the number of boats and participants.
Mullins said those without boats can find something of interest at the festive parade.
“Don’t have a boat? No worries, come have dinner at one of the sponsor restaurants, such as Brother Flecker’s, Freedom Café, or Gary’s Olde Town Tavern, or do a little shopping at sponsor Causeway Gifts,” she said. “Whatever you do pre-parade, make sure you find a nice viewing spot as the parade makes it way from Brandy Pond onto Long Lake and back starting at around 8:30 p.m.”
She thanked the event’s other Captain’s Club sponsors for their help to make this year’s Christmas in July Boat Parade one of the best ever, including Long Lake Marina, Naples Marina, and Moose Landing Marina, which sponsored last year’s best decorated marina boat.
According to Mullins, the chamber is pleased to partner with Naples in bringing this popular event to the town once again in 2022.
“Our hope is to make it a destination event for Naples,” she said.
“Naples is an important part of the Sebago Lakes Region, and like all of our eight towns including Casco, Gray, Naples, New Gloucester, Raymond, Sebago, Standish and Windham, we want to support them in any way we can.”
To participate in this year’s boat parade, all boats must be registered prior to the event. Registration is available online at https://www.sebagolakeschamber.com/event/christmas-in-july-boat-parade/
“Our hope is to make it a destination event for Naples. Of course, we said, yes. Naples is an important part of the Sebago Lakes Region, and like all of our eight towns including Casco, Gray, Naples, New Gloucester, Raymond, Sebago, Standish and Windham, we want to support them in any way we can.”
To participate in this year’s boat parade, all boats must be registered prior to the event. Registration is available online at https://www.sebagolakeschamber.com/event/christmas-in-july-boat-parade/
“Once again we hope boats come all decked out with tons of holiday decorations,” Mullins said. “There will be prizes for the three top decorated boats, once again voted on by town selectpersons.”
She said that the town of Naples is encouraging nearby businesses and residents of Brandy Pond and the lower end of Long Lake to decorate docks, homes, and waterfront properties to show their solidarity with the “Christmas in July” spirit.
Event organizers say they are grateful for all sponsors for this year’s parade, which has helped to pay for lighted buoys for the event and prizes for parade participants.
The Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce represents the Lakes Region towns of Casco, Gray, Naples, New Gloucester, Raymond, Sebago, Standish, and Windham, and it is one of the most active chambers in the entire state of Maine. The chamber is made up of business members ranging from young entrepreneurs and ‘mom & pop’ shops to the largest employers in the area. <
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