Recap: Light Boat Parade and Fireworks

By: Joey Shyken

A tradition in Jacksonville over Thanksgiving weekend along the St. Johns River is the Light Boat Parade and Fireworks show. This has been a tradition for over 30 years and my family has enjoyed watching almost every year for the 10 years we have lived here. If you have never heard of a light boat parade (we never did until we moved here) boats of all sizes are decorated and they cruise along the north and south banks of the St. Johns River. After the parade the City puts on a fireworks display and features a unique waterfall fireworks cascading from the Main Street and Acosta Bridges.

After Shabbos we quickly get into the car, we normally park behind the county school building and watch the show but this year we watched from the new Rivers Edge park which opened a week ago. This year the city had 2 simultaneous shows along the River and it was spectacular. After the show we decided to walk along the park and let the kids play on the playground.