Fishing boats and pleasure craft decorated with thousands of lights present a spectacular display on the Intracoastal Waterway. They cruise from Snows Cut to the Carolina Beach Boat Basin and back. The boats compete for prizes and add to the wonderful holiday spirit.
The flotilla always takes place on the second Saturday after Thanksgiving and begins at 6 PM. A panel of judges will be on hand to choose the winners. All are encouraged to participate in text voting for your favorite boat to determine the winner of the People’s Choice award. Bring the family and enjoy the evening at Carolina Beach. To enter a boat in the Flotilla click here for a printable registration form. Questions? Send an email to IOLFlotilla@gmail.com.
Photo Gallery: Past Christmas Flotillas
2024 Christmas Flotilla - Saturday 12/7/2024
Pleasure Island, NC
Photo Credit: Susan Foy
2022 Winners!
Category 3 (Boats up to 17.9')
First Place $300 - Houseboat / Mark House / Santa's Hooked Up (#11)
Category 2 (Boats 18’ to 24.9’)
First Place $300 - SS Minnow / The Island Men (Mark LeBlanc) / Winter Storm (#24)
Second Place $150 – Seven / Matt Piccinin / Christmas (#9)
Other Boats participating:
Island Women / Island Women / Flamingo Christmas (#1)
Lazy Pirate / Whalon Huff / Pirate Christmas (#3)
Reel Therapy / Dennis Long / Traditional Christmas (#5)
Happy Place / Ron Taylor / Ocean Christmas (#7)
Island Time Water Tours / Shelia Marshall / Captain and Christmas Crew (#10)
Okey Dokey / Rob Turnage / Red, White & Blue Christmas (#12)
Jumbo / Bruce Little / Christmas (#14)
Big Kahuna Tiki / Brandon Woodard / Big Kahuna Christmas (#15)
Sea Sharp / Zack Brown / Trolls Christmas (#17)
Muff Diver / Josh Parsons / Christmas Tree (#20)
Town of Carolina Beach / Larry Denning / Santa Claus (#23)
Category 1 (Boats Over 24’)
First Place $300 - Tail Chaser / Brandon Phillips / Nightmare Before Christmas (#8)
Second Place $150 - SS Fish Witch II / Nick Winslow / Snowplow (#4)
Other boats participating:
Salty Ventures / Thomas Dosier, Jr. / Christmas Lights (#2)
Fish Witch II / Shane Snow / Snowtorious (#6)
MT Nest / Tony Garibay / Friends Having Christmas Fun (#16)
Wild Rover III / David Tilley / Drunks with Lights (#18)
Vonda Kay / David Garner / Fish with Lights (#19)
People’s Choice (received the most text votes)
$300 Prize - In Tune / Jason Rivenbark / Octopus' Garden (#21)
Best Overall (highest score of all boats entered)
$400 Prize - Fillet and Release / Jeremy Vines / Welcome to Whoville (#13)