32nd Annual NC Holiday Flotilla and 11th Annual Enchanted Airlie Launch Holiday Season

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC, USA, November 29, 2015 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Large crowds gathered Thanksgiving week in Wrightsville Beach for the 11th season opening of Enchanted Airlie and the 32nd Annual North Carolina Holiday Flotilla. Opening nights at 67-acre Airlie Gardens were completely sold out, with holiday light and sound shows continuing through December 22.

Saturday's holiday flotilla followed a 4-mile route, idling past an estimated 50,000 visitors, and passed the judges' viewing stand at Blockade Runner Beach Resort. Twenty-three yachts, sailboats and motorboats, each competing for cash, prizes, and bragging rights, were brightly decorated with thousands of twinkling lights in a variety of holiday themes.

In a first for the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla, Captain Mike Hamby of Wilmington used his holiday decorated boat as a surprise wedding proposal. When passing his girlfriend on the parade route, Captain Hamby flipped a switch lighting up the words: "Sharon, will you marry me?" Sharon Edelstein of Wilmington accepted the surprise proposal via cell phone.

See photo of Captain Hamby's Boat and all 2015 NC Holiday Flotilla winners here

Flotilla evening ended with a stunning 4,000-round fireworks display by Zambelli International, illuminating the night sky, and showering the waterway with sound and color.

Text voting continued this year, with Crowd Favorite and People's Choice Awards determined by spectators.

Fall weather conditions for the week were ideal, with clear skies, highs in the 60s and 70s, with lows mostly in the 50s.

2015 winners include:

Category: Best of Show
Captain: Brent Jernigan
Vessel: Craig Cat
Theme: Merry Marlin

Category: Peoples Choice
Captain: Ava and Scott Werstein
Vessel: Cash
Theme: Santa ClawsFurtilla

Category: Crowd Favorite
Captain: Lindley College
Vessel: That's What Sea Said
Theme: Snow Wars

Category: Best Powerboat 31ft. and over
Captain: Christopher Bishop
Vessel: Bella Mare
Theme: Santa's On Vacation December 26th

Category: Best Powerboat 23ft. - 31ft.
Captain: Mark Dillon
Vessel: Summer Salt
Theme: Top Gun

Category: Best Powerboat 22ft. and under
Captain: Chris Spivey
Vessel: 5 o'clock Somewhere
Theme: Here We Come a Whale-sa-ling

Category: Best Sailboat
Captain: Dean Grey
Vessel: Bird
Theme: Patriotic Christmas

Category: Best Costumes & Crew Spirit
Captain: Patric and Christina Hudson
Vessel: Charlie
Theme: Have an Awesome Lego Christmas

Flotilla website: www.NCHolidayFlotilla.org

Contact:
Pres Davenport, Board Chairman
North Carolina Holiday Flotilla
info@NCHolidayFlotilla.org
p. 910-256-2120

Robert B Butler | PR
www.RBButler.com
www.NCPressRelease.org

Robert B Butler
North Carolina Press Release
919-455-8345
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