Holiday boat parade continues to light up Tennessee River

Have a had a rough go of it in 2020, but the show must go on!

News 12's dorothy sherman shows us how a parade lit up chattanooga with its festive spirit.

Dsherman@wdef.com/dorothy sherman: "another holiday boat parade lights up the tennessee river, but the event was a little different this year."

On the water the parade was as it normally is.

Boats decorated in festive colorful light as they made their way past ross's landing cruising for around 5 miles looping from the olgiati bridge to the walnut street bridge.

Around 20 boats participated this year.

The parade was able to go on despite the pandemic.

Folks are able to separate in their boats.

Many people that came to watch the parade from land appeared to be spaced apart in groups, some wearing masks.

Organizers say they hope people enjoy this parade to kick off the holiday season.

Erwin marine dockmaster, captain brian long: "i hope this kind of kicks off the holiday spirit.

It's the day after thanksgiving and gets everybody in a more joyful mood especially with the situation we find ourselves in daily."

What's looks different this year, because of the coronavirus pandemic fireworks were cancelled this year.

Also the event on land that this parade is a part of every year was canceled as well leaving only the boat parade to continue on.

Dsherman@wdef.com/dorothy sherman: in chattanooga, dorothy sherman, news 12 now."

Participation