A boat parade is judged in a few minutes per boat, usually at night, from a fixed spot while the boats keep moving. That is not much time to tell forty decorated boats apart, and the crews will want to know how the winners were picked. A clear category list and a simple score sheet make the night easier for the judges and easier to explain afterward.
This guide covers the categories most parades use, a score sheet you can copy, where to put the judges, how to split boats by size, how to break ties and how to handle judges who know the entrants. It is written for lighted Christmas and holiday parades, and the same method works for summer parades judged in daylight.
Choose the categories before the entry form goes out
Entrants decorate for the categories they can win, so publish the list with the entry form. A list that is too long spreads the judges thin; a list that is too short leaves good boats with nothing. For most parades, four to eight judged categories plus a people’s choice is enough.
- Best overall. The top award, judged across all entries.
- Best lights. The display itself: coverage, color, effect and how well it reads from the shore.
- Best theme. How clearly the boat tells a story, through lights, props, costumes and music.
- Most original. The idea nobody else had.
- Division awards. Best in each size or type division, so small boats are not scored against large ones.
- Best business entry and best club entry. For marinas, shops and clubs that enter as a group.
- Best youth or family crew. Optional, and popular where many families enter.
- Spirit or captain’s award. Chosen by the committee or the parade captain, not by score.
- People’s choice. Decided by spectators, by text, ballot or applause, and kept separate from the judges’ scores.
For the awards themselves, see boat parade awards.
A score sheet you can copy
Give each judge one sheet per division with the boats listed in parade order. Score every boat on the same criteria, then add the columns. Keep the scale short; judges watching moving boats in the dark do better with ten points per line than with a hundred.
| Criterion | What judges look for | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Lights | Coverage of hull and rigging, color, effect, how it reads from the judging point | 1 to 10 |
| Theme | A clear idea carried through lights, props, costumes and music | 1 to 10 |
| Originality | An idea or effect not seen elsewhere in the parade | 1 to 10 |
| Crew and music | Costumes, crew involvement, music or sound that fits the theme | 1 to 10 |
| Overall impression | How the boat looks as a whole as it passes | 1 to 10 |
Best lights can be taken from the lights column, best theme from the theme column and best overall from the total, so one sheet scores several categories. Keep a notes column for the boat name and anything that will help at the comparison afterward, such as a description of the display.
Where to put the judges
Judges should see every boat from the same angle at the same distance. A fixed point on shore, a dock or a club deck where the course passes close is the most common choice. Some parades also use an anchored judge boat at a turn, where each entry is seen side on.
- Three judges, or another odd number. It avoids a split decision and evens out personal taste.
- A good view of both sides if possible. Many boats decorate one side more heavily; tell entrants which side faces the judges.
- Light to write by, but not in their eyes. A small shaded light for the score sheets keeps the display visible.
- A spotter with the entry list. In the dark, a boat number or name is hard to read. A spotter calling out each entry keeps the sheets in order.
- Warm and dry. Holiday parades are cold. Judges who are comfortable judge the last boat as carefully as the first.
Divisions by size and type
A small runabout and a large cruiser have very different amounts of space to decorate. Dividing the field keeps the comparison fair and gives more crews a realistic chance of winning.
| Division method | Works well when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| By length | The fleet ranges from small boats to large cruisers | Set the length breaks on the entry form, not on the night |
| Sail and power | Many sailboats enter with lights in the rigging | A large sailboat can still outshine small power boats |
| Paddle division | Kayaks and paddleboards join the parade | Their own route or start position may be safer |
| Business, club and private | Many businesses enter decorated boats | Business entries often have bigger budgets |
Award best in each division, then judge best overall across all of them. Keep the number of divisions in proportion to the entries; a division with one boat in it is not much of a win.
Ties, conflicts of interest and announcing winners
Break ties with a named column. Decide in advance which criterion breaks a tie, for example the theme score for best theme and overall impression for best overall. If the boats are still level, the judges discuss them and vote.
Handle conflicts openly. In a small harbor the judges will know some of the entrants. A judge who owns, crews on or is related to someone on a boat should not score that boat; the remaining judges’ average stands in for their score. Write the rule down before the parade.
Count people’s choice separately. Keep spectator votes away from the judges’ sheets and announce the result as its own award.
Announce when the totals are checked. Have one person add every sheet and another check the sums. Most parades then announce at the party afterward, when the crews are ashore and the awards are on the table.
For the order of a presentation evening, award ceremony program has a running order you can adapt.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many judges does a boat parade need?
Three is the most common number. An odd number avoids split decisions and evens out personal taste.
What should a boat parade score sheet include?
The boats in parade order, and a short scale for each criterion: lights, theme, originality, crew and music, and overall impression. One sheet can then score several categories.
Should boats be divided by size?
Usually yes. Dividing by length, by sail and power or by private and business entries keeps the comparison fair. Set the divisions on the entry form.
How is a tie broken?
Name a tie-break criterion before the parade, such as the theme score for best theme. If the boats are still tied, the judges discuss them and vote.
What if a judge knows an entrant?
They should not score that boat. Use the average of the other judges for it, and publish the rule before the parade.
Know which awards your parade will give?
Send your category list and divisions with your parade logo. We design the awards with the category and year, leave room for the boat name, and send a proof before anything is produced.
See boat parade awards
