Winterfest Boat Parade Makes Waves

Lisa Scott Founds, president and CEO of Winterfest, catches us up on the December 11 boat parade's return to the waterways

Lisa Scott Founds
Lisa Scott Founds

After a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic, the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade makes its return this December 11, promising a dynamic program and new surprises. In honor of the “Best Show on H2O” and its fiftieth anniversary, FLI caught up with Lisa Scott Founds, who has helmed the organization for 25 years, to discuss her favorite moments and what to expect this year. 

FLI: What’s your earliest memory of the parade? 

Scott Founds: I can remember attending the first one—going down and taking a blanket [with family]. We would go every year following. We’d watch all the decorated boats. It wasn’t like a parade back in the day, more just a gathering and very organic.

Tell us about this year’s theme. 

The theme is “50 years of Hardrockin’ Fun.” We’re focusing on breaking it out into decades and the significant visuals or thoughts that identify with a certain decade. It can be anything fun: a band, a play, a singer, a movie—anything that really stuck out to that person who’s putting together the boat. 

This year’s Winterfest Boat parade will celebrate 50 years as the “Best Show on H2O” with a variety of festival events
This year’s Winterfest Boat parade will celebrate 50 years as the “Best Show on H2O” with a variety of festival events.

What’s one boat to look out for?  

The octopus boat. We’re doing some techy things we’ve never done before. Part of our board of 50 has encouraged Winterfest to enhance boats in the parade. We’re going to transform a water taxi into an under-the-sea environment, so the octopus is giving the boat a gigantic hug with dancing starfish, [and there will be] a giant clam that’s going to have a singer very similar to an Ariel. Probably one of the most vibrant entries we’ll have because it’s neon in color.

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