DATE: Friday, November 28, 1997             TAG: 9711280062
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   63 lines

PORTSMOUTH, NORFOLK TO SHARE LIGHTED BOAT PARADE, FESTIVITIES

About 80 boats of various sizes and shapes, all extravagantly decorated for the holidays, are expected to participate in the Lighted Boat Parade on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Elizabeth River Harbor between Norfolk and Portsmouth.

This year's version of the annual extravaganza on the river is a joint venture of Norfolk and Portsmouth, and that touch of regionalism will lead to some spectacular fireworks over the harbor after the parade.

The fireworks will be set off in Norfolk and Portsmouth and will be choreographed to holiday music.

``It'll be like a volley across the river,'' said Sheila Pittman, a member of the Portsmouth city manager's staff. ``This will be the first time we've ever done fireworks like this.''

Some other firsts also are on tap for spectators.

Gov. George F. Allen and his family will ride on The Chesapeake, the Virginia governor's yacht that he sold after taking office.

``The governor has to leave early for another engagement, but his family will stay for the entire parade,'' said Diane Kaufman of the Downtown Norfolk Council. ``This will be the first time a governor of Virginia has been here for this event. And it will be the first time the yacht, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Grand, has been in the parade.''

Also for the first time, the City of Virginia Beach will have an entry in the Mayor's Cup competition, which traditionally has drawn boats from most other Hampton Roads cities.

``Mayor (Meyera E.) Oberndorf won't be here because of a conflict, but other Virginia Beach officials will be on the boat,'' Kaufman said.

Navy Adm. Tim Ziemer, who as commanding officer of the Norfolk Naval Base is considered ``the Navy mayor,'' also will participate in the competition aboard a small Navy vessel.

Navy Special Warfare Squadron 2 from Norfolk will bring Santa Claus and his elves ashore at Mercury Dock in Norfolk after transporting him down the river in the middle of a V-formation of small boats. ``This will help in the lull between the parade and the fireworks that occurs as the boats make their way around the harbor to dock,'' Kaufman said. ``Santa and his elves will distribute candy and talk to the spectators while they wait for the fireworks.''

The boat decorations will reflect this year's theme, ``Treasures of the Season.'' Judges will be stationed along the waterfront on both sides of the harbor.

In addition to the Mayor's Cup, area yacht clubs will compete for a perpetual trophy, with yacht club entries being judged against each other.

David Culpepper, a Portsmouth boater and businessman who has chaired the parade for three years, said the participation of both cities in the parade activities is important because it takes both sides of the river to accommodate the estimated 50,000 spectators who line the waterfront.

When Culpepper became chairman in 1995, the boats turned before they reached the spectator area of the Portsmouth Seawall. Last year the route was elongated to take the boats up to High Street, and that route will be used again this year.

For the first time in the parade's history, music and announcers will be located on both sides of the river.

In Portsmouth, entertainers and food vendors will be at Portsmouth's High Street Landing and at the Holiday Inn patio.

In Norfolk, food vendors and musicians will be at the amphitheater outside Waterside for the traditional dockside party until 9 p.m.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu