Cow Bayou boat parade set for Dec. 10

The spirit of Christmas will light up Cow Bayou in Bridge City with a boat parade scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10. The “Christmas on the Bayou” boat parade will wind its way along the Cow Bayou shoreline in a course that begins and ends at High Tides Restaurant and Marina.

A fleet of boats adorned in Christmas lights will navigate past the many neighborhoods on the bayou entertaining residents and spreading Christmas cheer. The procession will depart High Tides at 6 PM. Upon returning, awards will be given to the best decorated boats. Alll boat owners wishing to join the parade are welcome to get onboard.

This is the first boat parade on Cow Bayou in several decades. An earlier, yet smaller version, was once led by Bridge City’s most famous cajun, A.J. Judice, whose fun loving antics made him one of the most renown Cajun characters west of the Sabine River. Judice died in 2008 at the age of 80. Bringing back the event was the idea of Bridge City resident Wesley Dishon who teamed up with A.J.’s son, Al Judice Sr., to restart the annual celebration kicking it off this year.

“We’ve already got about 50 boats participating and we’re looking to sign up more,” Dishon says. “It’s going to be a spectacular sight as the Christmas lit boats navigate the route that will pass along all of the natural bayou in Bridge City.” Dishon estimates the entire route will take about two hours.

Residents and property owners on Cow Bayou will have the opportunity to enjoy the colorful procession of boats as it slowly glides by. The general public can view the boat parade from High Tides which is the the main staging area and center for the awards ceremony and entertainment for the remainder of the evening. There is no charge to watch the parade dockside at High Tides.

Live music by the band Twenty-Twos will begin performing from 7 pm - 11 pm while the boat parade is underway. High Tides restaurant will also have “Christmas on the Bayou” dinner and drink specials for the event.

Boat owners interested in joining the parade are welcome to participate. There is no entry fee. Boats should be decorated in Christmas lights and ready to depart High Tides at 6 PM. High Tides is located at 3109 Texas Ave, Bridge City. For more information call (409) 792-5001.

The “Christmas on the Bayou” boat parade is co-sponsored by High Tides and Judice’s Cajun Cafe in Bridge City.