Ketchikan’s boat parade has grown over the years. Santa Claus even started showing up. Well, one of Santa’s helpers – otherwise known as South Tongass Fire Chief Steve Rydeen.
I was going to be Santa Claus again on the Coast Guard boat,” Rydeen told Dave Owings of Southeast Alaska Petroleum Response Organization.
“Well, you are such a jolly old elf! I hope they tie you to the mast this year,” Owings joked. Owings said that the Ketchikan boat parade had fizzled by the early 2000’s. One night, he, along with some neighbors, decided to put Christmas lights on their boats and steam down the Tongass Narrows. And the tradition was revived.
Rydeen is reprising his role of Santa Claus this year on the U.S. Coast Guard’s fast response boat, which will join the parade on December 30. It’s not a competition but if it was, Rydeen said that it would be hard to beat Trygve Westergard’s boat, the F/V Nordic Lady, for most holiday spirit.
“Trygve always does a really good job. His boat’s decked to the nines. And with the fireworks going off, I mean, you can’t really hold a candle to that, right?” Rydeen said.
If all goes well on December 30, Rydeen said parade-watchers can expect fireworks. In years past, Westergard, a local fisherman, and his crew lit up the skies around Ketchikan with fireworks fired from the deck of the Nordic Lady. Westegard plans to continue the tradition.
Rydeen said the number of boats varies depending on the weather. Last year, Ketchikan’s boat parade included around 14 boats. The year before, they had 23. If the weather is good on the 30th, Rydeen anticipates 15-20 boats. Though, he noted, that is always subject to change in Ketchikan. There may be some exciting additions this year. The Coast Guard cutter Douglas Denman and the airport ferry are planning on decking the bow and stern.
Rydeen said boat owners interested in participating in the Ketchikan Boat Parade should plan to line up at Peninsula Point between 4 and 4:30 on Saturday the 30th. The parade loop will be through the channel between Ketchikan and Gravina Island, past the berths, and towards Pennock Island.
UPDATE: The parade was originally scheduled for December 23rd but has been postponed to Saturday December 30 due to inclement weather. The story has been updated to reflect that.
