This Saturday: Middle River Lighted Boat Parade

It's not the Griswolds on the Chesapeake, but it's close.

Middle River's ninth annual lighted boat parade takes to the water on Saturday. The holiday tradition will inclue as many as 55 boats decked out with lights and music.

One boat, organizer Jim High said, once came with flaming dragons along for the ride.

"Propane?" High suggested when asked how the dragons operated. "I don't know how they got it to work but they did work."

Pyrotechnics, however, are far from unusual in some of the more elaborate holiday-themed displays.

High, general manager of Baltimore Boating Center, said the annual event was first modeled off similar parades in "prestigious neighborhoods" like Annapolis, Solomons Island, Kent Narrows and the Inner Harbor.

"It was thought that maybe Middle River should have one also," he said.

Now, High said, boaters come from Harford County, Pennsylvania, Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County for Middle River's parade.

The parade starts around 5:15 p.m., with boats leaving from Stansbury Yacht Basin. Check out the detailed parade route. Expect viewing spots to be crowded—High said about 1,000 will be at a public viewing area at Wilson Point Park. Most waterfront restaurants, he said, are sold out for the evening, including the River Watch Restaurant, Carson's Creekside, Sunset Cove and Steelefish Grill.

Where's your favorite spot to watch the parade? Tell us in the comments!