Play The Texas Coast Rockport's Tropical Christmas | Page 4

Adults and children alike will love the Christmas Tree Decorating Contest and a wonderful “Vintage Style Show” on stage, sponsored by the History Center of Aransas County’s “Tour of Historic
Homes”. The historic home tour will also be taking place at various locations throughout the
community.
Capping off the day’s festivities will be the lighting of the giant community Christmas tree, an
illuminated night parade, PLUS a colorful and exciting fireworks display over the bay.
Ever wonder who brought Santa to Rockport? It all started with a man by the name of George
Riekers. You see, when George and his partner Jim Godfrey first visited Rockport in 1980 they
couldn’t help but fall in love with the city and well, they just never left! Rockport was a lot smaller back then, with a population of about 3,686. Most folks celebrated at home and/or in small
groups. There were no city sponsored Christmas events downtown. George came up with the
idea to do a Christmas parade which would take place in downtown Rockport drawing visitors
and residents to the area. Getting started wasn’t easy but with the help of friends, the downtown
merchants and the South Rockport Neighbors Association, they managed to pull it off.
The first Rockport Christmas Parade took place in
1995 in the morning on the first Saturday in December. The parade featured jugglers, a beauty queen,
floats and plenty of clowns! The Corpus Christi Clown
College came out in full force and made it an event
to remember. The parade was a big success and continued for approximately (10) years, until the City of
Rockport assumed responsibility for the parade and
built it into a day-long Tropical Christmas Festival!

1995 Parade

Pet Costume Contest

This is an event you certainly don’t want to miss. So
make plans to be in Rockport during the first weekend in December and spend Christmas, tropical style
on Saturday, December 3rd!
FMI:
http://www.cityofrockport.com/515/2016-Tropical-Christmas or call [phone].

Color Guard

Pirates Of Aransas Bay Costume Contest

Pirate Show

Fireworks

Cast-in-Bronze
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