Tara's Dennis and Lisa Pyeatt are all aboard the Jiggs Express.
Photo by Liz Ramos
East County
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Tara's Dennis and Lisa Pyeatt brought the Jiggs Express to Jiggs Landing Dec. 2.
The couple turned their boat into a brightly lit train inspired by the Christmas movie "The Polar Express" for Jiggs Landing's annual Holiday Boat Parade.
Dennis Pyeatt spent a month designing and building his boat to look like a train, complete with lights to make the wheels look like they are turning.
He and his wife love participating in the parade every year and hearing the spectators cheer and look in awe at the boats.
"It's a good evening on the river," he said.
But the annual parade isn't just an opportunity to celebrate the holidays for the Pyeatts.
It's also a time for them to celebrate Dennis Pyeatt being another year cancer-free.
He was originally diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2007 and has since beat cancer five times.
"It's a feeling like no other. It's amazing," he said of being cancer-free.
Tara's Sheila Buck and Wendy Benson add to the holiday spirit at the Holiday Boat Parade at Jiggs Landing with their festive outfits.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Tara's Dennis and Lisa Pyeatt are all aboard the Jiggs Express.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Anna Maria Island's Jill Diesman and her dogs get a visit from East County's Greg Sheppard, or Santa.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Bradenton's Gerry Audibert and Lyn Audibert and Debbie Small and Robert Small loved last year's Holiday Boat Parade at Jiggs Landing so much they had to come back for this year's parade.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Boats of all sizes are included in the boat parade, including kayaks.
Photo by Liz Ramos
People line the river in anticipation of the Holiday Boat Parade at Jiggs Landing.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Bradenton 4-year-old Carter Andrzejewski plays with Carrie Cook. She helps him jump from log to log.
Photo by Liz Ramos
The holiday spirit is beaming from a boat entry in the Jiggs Landing Holiday Boat Parade as it makes its way down the river.
Photo by Liz Ramos
The Divebombers — Nat Langston and George Worthmore — perform prior to the parade.
Photo by Liz Ramos
The Grinch and his dog Max make an appearance at Jiggs Landing during the boat parade, but don't worry, they aren't trying to steal Christmas.
Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.
