Island of Lights Holiday Flotilla puts Carolina Beach in the Christmas spirit

Christmas came a little early in Carolina Beach. The Nineteenth Annual Island of Lights Holiday Flotilla Saturday night had locals in the Christmas mood.

Twelve proud boats paraded down the Intracoastal Waterway from Snow’s Cut to the Carolina Beach Boat Basin, and back.

Whether boaters started stringing lights four months ago or three days ago, it was a spectacular sight.

Some crews themed their ships to movie sets and yet others came up with their own ideas; but everyone was full of holiday cheer.

Boats were judged on three categories; appearance, originality, and spirit. And who better to judge the event than NewsChannel Three’s very own chief meteorologist Chris Phillips?

He too, was in the holiday spirit. “Here come some palm trees, and I think a bunch of pirates are coming after that. It’s a pretty good night in Carolina Beach.”

This nautical night in Carolina beach put a smile on everyone’s face, including the one who planned it, Hilary Faulk-Vaughn. She said of the event, “We’re really excited about the flotilla this year. We could see all the hard work and the time and the effort that the captains put into the boats, and it was a magnificent night.”

The best overall winner was Captain Cody Boston’s “A Typical Day at Santa’s Office”. He and the crew were awarded four hundred dollars cash and bragging rights for the entire year.