It’s time to start thinking about how you will decorate your boat for this year’s holiday boat parade. Last year our owner’s used Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Charlie Brown for their inspiration. Keep reading today’s blog for more ideas!

1. “He’s making a list and checking it twice..”

This is an incredibly fun idea if you’re planning to have a full boat load for the parade! To get started outline your boat in either red or white rope lighting and set-up a decorated Christmas tree with large presents underneath. To create the presents, use large electronics or appliance boxes, and wrap in holiday paper with bows on top. Now designate someone on board to play Santa Claus, and others to play elves at the North Pole. Complete the theme by creating a large white scroll for Santa to pretend to read and check off while on board.

2. Santa’s Toy Shop

During the holidays children dream of visiting Santa’s toy shop in the North Pole. Make their dreams come true this holiday season by creating Santa’s toy shop on your Monterey Boat! Once again you will want to outline your boat in rope lighting, we recommend red and white lighting to create a candy cane effect. Allow passengers to dress up as Santa’s elves and hand out large toy props for them to hold during the parade. Don’t forget Santa!

3. Gingerbread House

This might be one of our favorite ideas for this holiday season, but you will need plenty of time to plan! It’s a great theme to enlist the kids help with. Travel to a local craft store and pick up thick cardstock or cardboard, scissors and paint in assorted holiday colors such as red, green, and white. Create peppermints, candy canes, and gumdrops using the cardstock. If you’re using cardboard, paint the pieces once they are cut out. Outline your boat in white rope lighting for a snowy effect and arrange and anchor the candy pieces throughout the boat. Either create a gingerbread man using cardboard and cardstock, or purchase an inflatable gingerbread man from a local store such as Target or Wal-Mart.

Share pictures of last year’s floats with us on our Monterey Boats Facebook page, and don’t forget to add pictures of this year’s too!