The Parade of Lights 2015

The Dead Fish Grill located on Lake Belton was the place to be for the best views of the annual Parade of Lights sponsored by Fox 44 on December 6, 2015. The event has grown in popularity in the past years and one of the many highlights of the Christmas Season here in Belton. Residents of Belton and the surrounding communities are able to gather at the restaurant and enjoy live music from The Phlip Coggins Band from Lubbock, Texas; shop local vendors and have dinner from the restaurant’s multi-choice menu.

“We are here for the parade and we just love the restaurant. We have come out here for several years. The parade is so pretty,” said Elisa Ndra of Killeen, Texas.

At sunset the parade begins. Boats from the marina are decorated with Christmas lights that any Christmas lover would appreciate. Cheers could be heard from all around the Belton Dam as the boats approach the patios of the restaurant. Jamie Garrett from Country Radio US 105.5 announced boat number and owner as so each guest may place their choice for first, second, third and People’s Choice winners. This year’s winners were 3rd place, Roger Williams, 2nd place, Bob Schwartz, The Row Boat, and 1st place to Troy Leo Club pontoon. Bob Schwartz, The Row Boat also won for the People’s Choice Award.

“The concept originated several years ago with a group of boat owners from the marina who decided to dress their boats in lights and troll around Lake Belton. It has evolved over the years into an annual gathering and we have taken it the last couple of years to a place where we are known not just in Lake Belton but in the whole county and Central Texas,” said General Manager Matthew Taylor.

Taylor continued, “Parade of Lights 2015 was far and above our most successful parade of lights to date. Not only did we incorporate more than 20 boats from the marina in our parade but we saw community outpouring unsurpassed from recent years. We look forward to the event in 2016 as well as our continued support of local nonprofit fundraisers and community involvement that presents a family-friendly holiday environment and the spectacle that is, the Parade of Lights.”