Community boaters held the Christmas on the Braden River boat parade Sunday.
By
Jessica Salmond
| 11:53 a.m. December 7, 2015
East County
Neighbors
Share
Boaters shared holiday cheer Sunday night after sailing down the Braden River.
Braden River neighbors held the annual Christmas on the Braden River boat parade Sunday night, a tradition that was rekindled several years ago by the former Old Braden River Historical Society. The organization disbanded earlier this year, but community members wanted to keep up the parade as a local, neighborhood effort. The parade began in Evers Reservoir and ended at Linger Lodge restaurant.
Josh Waskom and Kristina Talkie decorated their boat this year for the first time and joined the parade for fun.
"We saw the parade go by last year, and I was jealous," Waskom said. Next year, he plans to up his lighting game even more, he added.
The four boats in the parade cruised past Jiggs Landing before heading east to Linger Lodge.
Sarasota resident Don Traver decorated his boat with friends Tara and Travis Gant of Lakewood Ranch and Bob and Diana Warseck of Palm-Aire
Whisper Bend residents Al and Nancy Karan brought family members Nate, Jake, Jen and Jeff Karan to Jiggs Landing to watch the boat parade.
Carol Heilsberg, Karen Kilby and Darlene Schroeder are on vacation in Florida and decided to come to Linger Lodge to see the boat parade.
Linger Lodge was festive for the season.
University Park residents John Waskom and Kristine Talkie
River Landing residents John and Beverly Pretchel, Donna Hayes, Sandy Weidemiller, Al Yusko, Dale Weidemiller and Sallie Yusko
Central Park residents Don and Lynda Zetzlemoyer and Nancy Patek of Michigan
Ruskin seasonal residents Lori Colston, Nancy Shadoan and Gary Buhrow came to Linger Lodge to watch the parade.
Braden River residents Melissa Stott and Denise Kleiner with Sarasota resident Don Traver
Sue Stein and husband Doug Rose of Brandon came down to watch the parade and eat dinner. They said Linger Lodge is one of their favorite restaurants.
Four decorated boats met up in Evers Reservoir to launch the parade.
