Photos: Lake Murray Christmas Light Boat Parade returns, awards more than $2K to winners

The much-hyped potential for bad weather gave way to a clear and temperate night Dec. 2, as residents gathered along the grass and sand of the Lake Murray Dam Public Park to see the lake’s annual Christmas Light Boat Parade. 

The event, put on by the Capital City/Lake Murray Country regional tourism board, returned after being canceled last year due to low water levels, sending boats lit and decorated for the holidays past the park, with the Spirit of Lake Murray, the lake’s sole yacht, which made her inaugural voyage following a recent restoration, taking the lead and making way for the competitors.

A panel of judges – including Chronicle managing editor Jordan Lawrence alongside WIS-TV’s Jamal Goss and COLAtoday’s David Stringer – decided the winners.

In first place, winning $1,000, was the Gumdrop House decorated by Lorne White. In second place, winning $750, was T-Rex Pulling Santa decorated by Taylor Bell. In third, winning $500, was Christmas at the Zoo decorated by Nathan Simpson.

The parade ended with a fireworks finale that lit up the sky for those in attendance and people driving by along the Lake Murray Dam.