Night in Venice: Photos, Videos and Contest Winners
The annual boat parade is a highlight of the summer social scene in Ocean City.
Photos
Videos
Ocean City's annual Night in Venice decorated boat parade went off at 6 p.m. Saturday evening with about 50 entries making the trip from the Ocean City-Longport Bridge, along Ocean City's bayfront, in and out of lagoons along the way, to the end of the parade route at Tennessee Avenue.
The end of the parade was cut short by a sudden thunderstorm shortly after 7:30 p.m., and not all boats completed the parade route as they retreated to safe harbor.
But the storm was short-lived, and the highlight of Ocean City's summer party scene continue with little interruption.
The "Best of Show" winner for the boat parade was a replica of the Battleship New Jersey by the Gifford family.
Other results are as follows:
COMIC DIVISION
Under 25 feet: Leeds, Boat No. 22, 'Remember When Prohibition'
Over 25 feet: Whiteside, Boat No. 41, 'Lobsterfest'
MOST ORIGINAL
Under 25 feet: Watkins, Boat No. 28, 'Year of the Dragon'
Over 25 feet: O'Fleet, Boat No. 17, 'Cowboys and Indians'
MUSICAL
Under 25 feet: Bertolino, Boat No. 45, 'That '70s Show'
Over 25 feet: O'Fleet, Boat No. 52, 'Dancin's on Air: '80s Dance Party'
BEST DECORATED
Under 25 feet: Robinson, Boat No. 47, 'Disney World in O.C.'
Over 25 feet: Ferguson, Boat No. 36, 'Zombies Invade Night in Venice'
CHILDREN'S DIVISION
Under 25 feet: Buckley, Boat No. 55, 'Memories from '50s, '60s and '70s'
Over 25 feet: Edmund, Boat No. 24, 'Remember When the Flyers Won the Stanley Cup'
CLASSIC
Under 25 feet: Rattigan, Boat No. 31, 'The Michele Grace'
BEST OF SHOW
Under 25 feet: Gifford, Boat No. 62, 'Battleship New Jersey Replica'
For complete results of both the home and boat decorating contests, see the Ocean City, NJ website.
john
11:55 pm on Saturday, July 28, 2012
Wow are you kidding me there were a lot of better decorated boats out there. a couple of the boats that won were not even decorated. guess you need to know one of the judges. just saying. the Starwars one was a great boat time effort looked great. The disney boat put a inflatable allagator on top Wow. The fix is really in will not do it again next year too much money and time spent. when all we needed was a blow up doll.
Leslie
9:17 am on Sunday, July 29, 2012
agreed. just goes to show a little imagination does not go along way. oh well..had fun being a part of it anyway.
Ellen
5:43 pm on Sunday, July 29, 2012
The fix is in on everything in OCNJ! The only reason you should participate in any contest is if you just want in for the fun. If you plan on winning, fuggaboutit. Night in Venice; Dog of the Year - they are all predetermined.
John Hayes
7:22 am on Sunday, July 29, 2012
Great pics and video. Such a shame that storm rolled through to cut the fun short.
leah
7:48 am on Sunday, July 29, 2012
thanks for the pics .. would like to have been there.. our house is on asbury ... looking for a house to rent next year so we can host a nigjt in venise get together .. leah bucoli
Hannah
2:11 pm on Sunday, July 29, 2012
You all are immature and jealous HATERS. sorry your boat could not compete with Disneyworld in OC. Better luck next year.
Ps. we don't know anyone around here. First timmers actually. Sorry you lost to rookies.
Ellen
5:55 pm on Sunday, July 29, 2012
Dear Hannah - Can tell that you are a teenager so it's better that you learn now that, as with all things in life, he who has the gold wins and who you know makes it all happen. It's true in business, contests, family - all relationships in life. So if your family has the gold, and you know the gorilla in each big tree, you'll do well in life. Not sayin' it's fair but it is what it is. So don't be so high and mighty about people who work hard creating wonderful boats and still foolishly believe they have a fair chance. Be nice.
PS. you know plenty of people around here 'Hannah'.
Megan Brandenberger
8:55 am on Monday, July 30, 2012
Congrats on the win!! We loved all of your costumes :) My son who is 1 was a big fan of your theme too!!
David Powell
10:15 am on Monday, July 30, 2012
The Battleship New Jersey was one of the best boats I have seen in years! Creative and brilliantly done, so much work must have gone into her! Having the number "62" was just so fitting and one of the many details that made the Battleship a stunner. The details were so brilliantly done! Well done!
Carl
10:53 am on Monday, July 30, 2012
The boat was made at a marine company wasn't like he built for that nite you could have bought it on
eBay for 80000 should have never won also 4years there 4years different judging ways .To all that finished should have been mentioned as they risked their lives thanks to the Mr&Mrs Buckley who allowed us to pull into their dock as we are not from the area and had no where to go but ride the storm .As for starting on time the lead boats started 15-20mins late .Also some captains need to learn how to handle their boats when it comes to the lagoons trying to turn around hitting boats and docks with their engines making it difficult on the other captains in the parade all in all we won 3 years out of 4 nothing for this year but all in all my crew still had fun may see u next year
Rosemarie Federico
10:51 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Carl and Mary ...get your facts straight before you attack someone, for your formation
the Batleship of New Jersey replica was designed and built by Bill Gifford, owner and
operator of Gifford Marine Inc. it was a labor of love that took 2 yrs. to build. This
vessel is dedicated to the Veterans of the United States Armed Forces and the Freedoms they fought for. The entire building process can be seen on Giffordmarineinc.com. Bill was 67 yrs old when he started construciton and the work was done by his own two hands, and an occasional helper. It is a real shame that all you have to say are negative things about a REAL WINNER, A PATRIOT, AN A PERSON WHO IS PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!! If all you have to do is complain about being in the parade and the organization of it , maybe you should think twice about next year
LMFAO
6:12 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
anyone going to mention the mayors boat going full damn throttle all the way along the docks in the, dare i say, no wake zone?!?! our neighbor got knocked out of his boat! totally careless . surprised none of that has been mentioned!!
Gloria
11:36 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Oh my goodness! All of this lively conversation is so exemplary of what Ocean City has become. Sad. There are real life issues that beg way more attention than this silly bickering. As well, examples what's a part of the problem with the world at large today! "My boats bigger than your boat"! "You only won becasue of who you know"! Wah, wah, wah!
JOhn James
3:40 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Yes it is a shame that everyone throws the negative comments but no nice ones. I want to personnally thank everyone that entered and endured all the crazzyness at the biginnig and the monster finish of heavy rain and wind. If these boats didn't come there would be no venice. Let's give them a hand. Thank you guys and girls. North star those pontton boats just ran us over to get in. I was the one to let in I was just waiting for my place to come up. So much for that idea huh?
Mary Barrus
5:59 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
And that's why I hate commenting on anything. yes John those pontoons were relentless!
Todd
8:06 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
This is my 34th NIV. The Battleship New Jersey was stunning & one of the best ever in the history of the parade.