By Laura D'Alessandro • Staff Writer • November 28, 2008

 SALISBURY -- The Wicomico River will look like a city skyline from afar Saturday night, when 25- to 55-foot boats adorned in hundreds of colored lights make their holiday journey during the 21st annual Boat Parade.

This year, the tradition is taking on a new time and a longer route to allow for more visibility, said Scott McCurdy, commodore of the Wicomico Yacht Club in Allen.

The parade is scheduled to leave the Yacht Club at 4:30 p.m., drop Santa Claus off at the Port of Salisbury Marina by 6:30 p.m. and make their way back down the river, returning to the yacht club at about 8:30 p.m.

In previous years the parade only traveled one way, giving people one chance to catch the sparkling watercrafts. But McCurdy said now, there are two chances.

McCurdy said even if the boats are late, it's better to be on the lookout for them early rather than be late and miss the parade. He'll be driving his 504 carver, a 50-foot vessel, which he's decked out with the brightest lights he could find.

"I've always told people at the Yacht Club that all boats look good a night with Christmas lights," he said. "The brighter and the more lights and flashes and blinks, the better it is."

Riverfront residents often plan holiday parties on the evening of the parade to gather together and watch the vessels sparkle on the river, while others will come out in the cold for a chance to meet Santa at the Salisbury Marina.

And the party had that evening isn't just for onlookers. McCurdy said boaters bring family and friends with them to have a party of their own.

"Everybody's got friends and takes food with them so it's always a big time," he said. "Hopefully the weather is not too bleak and you can stand on the deck and holler and yell and that's part of the fun."

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