One of the great yearly traditions on the coast is the fantastic Mooloolaba’s Christmas boat parade run by the local yacht club here on the Sunshine Coast. Every year participants deck out their yachts, dinghies and every other kind of watercraft imaginable in lights, tinsel, and everything ‘Christmassy’ you could think of in the name of charity. It’s a true community event, with locals and tourists alike staking out coastal viewpoints along the watery route to watch, as each entry parades past in an effort to win first place and the grand prize of the ‘Winner’s Trophy’ a $100 Wharf Tavern voucher, a set of ‘Simply Too Good To Be True’ cookbooks, and a bottle of red as the cherry on top of their year long bragging rights. Basically a charity event, the proceeds from the entries, donations from sponsors and the raffle ticket sales go to a charity of choice, and this year it’s the ‘STEPS’ charity organisation.

The STEPS charity works with the disabled to help build a happier, brighter, more self-reliant future. They also endeavour to increase awareness and promote equality, as well as providing opportunities for improved quality of life for their clients. “STEPS humble beginnings were sparked way back in 1989 when a group of parents, all of whom had a child with a disability, felt there wasn’t enough support in place to allow their children to achieve true independence. So they did something about it! United in their passion, STEPS was established, and they’re still working to empower individuals and create a positive impact in our communities.” In April, construction of a purpose designed education facility to help the charity towards their goals commenced. Support for the charity will go towards maintaining the facility and its efforts, as well as creating more opportunities such as this for more disabled people.

So, thanks to The Wharf – Mooloolaba, the Sunshine Coast Council, Workplace Central, and of course the organisational efforts of the Mooloolaba Yacht Club, the Mooloolaba Christmas Boat Parade will again be returning to our waters to continue its fantastic work in raising money for the most deserving of charities. Beginning at 6:30pm this December 17th it’s best to get in early to reserve your spot as real estate dries up quickly, with the night’s events coming to a close at 9pm.

For more information on entering the parade yourself, the event itself, or any other information pertaining to the event, check out their website. – it’s bound to be yet another fantastic night for a great cause.