Sound the Fog Horns, the Westport Pontoon Parade Is Back

You've heard of birthday parades and graduation parades, but have you ever heard of a pontoon parade?

Over in the small town of Westport, the Watuppa Pond is home to some of the most decorated pontoon boats. Every year for the past few years, the local residents gear up for a family-friendly party on the water like no other.

On July 5, the pontoons will be ready to launch at 2 p.m.

"It's a big celebration across the pond," Westport resident and pontoon boat owner Chris DaSilva told Fun 107. "We circle around the entire perimeter of the Watuppa Pond, passing by all the backyard Fourth of July parties that the waterfront property owners have each year. This is our third year of doing the parade."

According to DaSilva, the parade normally lasts from about an hour and a half to two hours, depending on the number of participants. This parade normally gets an average of 20 or more pontoons involved in the celebration.

"The boats are decorated from top to bottom, we have music playing and it's an all-around fun time on the water," DaSilva said. "The parade brings in folks from the Watuppa Pond, Sawdy Pond and the Old Watuppa Sportsman Boat Club."

Through the years, Watuppa Pond has brought people from Fall River, Westport and Tiverton together.

"I've made more friends on the water because of this (parade)," DaSilva said, "It's a friendly bond and everything you look for is right there on the pond. Between the backyard parties and sunsets, it doesn't get any better than that."

And it will be easy to practice social distancing.

"The best part is that you don't have to load up your boat," DaSilva said, "The boats are clearly more than six feet apart and the people on board are simply families for the most part who live together."

For any boat that would like to participate, the meeting spot is at 1:30 p.m. on the south side of the pond where the pontoons will be formed into a line before starting the parade.