Lake Wylie boat parade casts reflections of Christmas (+ videos)

Boats decked out with Christmas lights brightened the main channel of Lake Wylie during an unseasonably warm Dec. 12 evening for the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce’s annual Lights on the Lake Holiday Boat Parade. This year’s parade drew the most spectators in the event’s 27-year history as afternoon temperatures rose to over 70 degrees and sunny.

Churches set up tents with cookies and other goodies at T-bones on the Lake lawn. There also was live music entertainment, a live nativity and visits with Santa Claus on land for the addition to the parade called Christmas at the Lake.

Winner of the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce’s annual Lights on the Lake Holiday Boat Parade was Ronnie Lineberger of Belmont, captain of a 28-foot Aqua Chalet Houseboat, decorated with about 5,000 multi-colored lights creating a dog house with inflatable Snoopy and Woodstock on top of a roof created with PVC pipe.

Lineberger said he spent a couple hours a day totaling about 20 hours decorating. It was his fifth time entering and his first time placing.

“I’m very thrilled, and want to thank the chamber,” he said. “All the boats looked great.”

When he bought his boat a couple of years ago, he envisioned the Snoopy theme.

“I’m a big Charlie Brown fan,” he said.

On board with him was wife Carol, in-laws, three of his five children and four of his six grandchildren. He said he does it for the fun.

“Watching all these adults and see their eyes light up, and kids and grandkids all excited, we had a great time and going to do it again,” he said.

Other awards:

▪ Second: Olaf’s Big One – Tommy Whitesides

▪ Third: Hot Mess – Chip and Erin Birch

▪ Most Creative: Christmas Story with Leg lamp – Kara Snyder

▪ Most Festive: Jamaican Christmas – Larry Watts

▪ Charlie Brown Award: Snow Flakes – Steve and Kara McNeeley

This story was originally published December 13, 2015 at 5:06 PM with the headline "Lake Wylie boat parade casts reflections of Christmas (+ videos)."