WEEKEND BEST BET: Lighted Boat Parade

The 2012 Lighted Boat Parade will light up the waters on north end of Longboat Key on Saturday.

Beginning at 6 p.m., decorated boats will set sail in the Intracoastal Waterway near Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub and Moore’s Stone Crab Restaurant on Broadway and travel to the Seafood Shack in Cortez.

Donation for Manatee Toys for Tots are requested.

The event will feature more than $1,000 in cash prizes for decorated boats. Pre-registration is required.

For information, visit CortezYachtClub.org.

Prior to the parade, children are invited to celebrate the holidays from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, at Moore’s Kid Party.

The event will include gift bags, face painting and cookies and milk.

For information, call 383-1748.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].