Flashy floating fishing boats attract folks from across the state

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — ‘Tis the season for chilly weather, Christmas trees and lots of lights. While many decorate their homes, some folks like to add a little or a lot of twinkle to their boats.

Saturday marked the annual Island of Lights Christmas Flotilla held in Carolina Beach. It’s a floating parade with fishing boats and pleasure craft decorated with thousands of lights that present a spectacular display on the intracoastal waterway. Hundreds venture down to Pleasure Island each Christmas season to watch the sparkling event.

“We just thought it would be different. A lot of places in Raleigh, you know, there are parades and the usual Christmas stuff, but there are no flotillas because there’s no ocean nearby,” Joan Plotnick of Raleigh said. “So we thought, we want to do something we’ve never done before, and then I saw this flotilla listing in the magazine and thought, that’s different!”

WWAY’s own Chris Phillips helped judge the floating spectacles.

Winners received prizes, and even those who didn’t place say they had a ball lighting up the Christmas season.