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The Harrison Township Parade of Lights returns Saturday night to the Clinton River with a new charity and a special guest celeb judge for a night of fun and frolic.
The parade has long been a Boat Town tradition in the lakeside community where captains transform their boats into colorful vessels of fun as landlubbers at marinas and back yards join in for one big waterfront party.
Lambrecht Marina (formerly Markley Marine) on North River Road, continues to host the event and act as its home base, said Julie Angst, the marina manager. She has served as the event chair for seven of the past eight years since the procession was revived.
Angst said the Parade of Lights is a community event that is sponsored by many neighboring marinas and locals businesses to help raise fund for a 501(c)3 charity.
“This is a family, friendly, charity event that takes place on the Clinton River,” Angst said in a statement. “Participants decorate their vessels and cruise the river, to benefit the chosen charity and possibly win the grand prize.”
Joining the judging panel this year will be media celebrity Jay Towers, a morning radio host for WNIC-FM 100.3 (iHeart Media) and news anchor for Fox TV in Detroit.
Many homeowners along the route will also dress up their residences with lights or props as the riverfront neighborhoods became part of the event. Several marinas hosted parties with live entertainment.
Captains compete for first place prize of $1,000. Runners-up will receive $500 and $300, and the best-decorated resident’s house will pocket $100.
Parade contributions will go toward Angels of Hope, a Shelby Township-based, volunteer charity. According to their website, their mission is to provide critical support to Michigan families impacted by cancer.
Initially conceived in the late 1980s by then-Harrison Township Supervisor and current Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller — a sailor herself — and organized by a group of local businesses, the event has grown through the years.
In recent years, Lambrecht Marina has hosted the procession. Now owned by Jim and Jeff Lambrecht, the North River Road marina has served as the event host for the seventh year.
The parade will be led by the Pride of Michigan, an 81-foot former U.S. Navy training vessel carrying the Sea Cadets. The vessel is located on South River Road by the North Star Sail Club.
Starting at 9 p.m. Saturday, the parade will depart from Lambrecht Marina and heading to Bridgeview to the mouth of the Clinton River and back to Lambrecht.
Viewing spots include Bumpers Landing, Crews Inn, Harley Ensign Memorial Boating Access Site and along the Clinton River
Some of the sponsors include Freedom Boat Club, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, PGS Dentistry, Metro Boat Show-MBIA, Huron Pointe Excavating, Octopus Beer Gardens and Daisy Salon. Other local community-minded business are also sponsoring the waterfront festival.
Participating boats must be pre-registered. For registration, call 586-469-600 or visit lambrechtmarina.com/parade-of-lights.
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