The Show Will Float On
Thanks to Rhonda Bunker, the south Brunswick holiday event is being reborn as the First Annual Boat Parade, and it’s set for Saturday, December 5.
Besides the disparity between the seasonal population (25,000) and the local population (1,000), Ocean Isle Beach has been known for its traditional annual flotilla of boats during the holiday.
But many locals were saddened by the news that the popular boat parade, formerly called the OIB Flotilla, was being discontinued in 2026.
Not to worry.
A seasoned boat parade organizer with an established record of success has willingly picked up the torch. The OIB Flotilla may be history, but in 2026 the First Annual Boat Parade will fill the void — and then some.
Breaking a bit with tradition, it will take place on Saturday, December 5, 2026.
Rhonda Bunker, a local award-winning photographer (Best of Brunswick 2026) who has spent much of her life on the water, has taken the reins to preserve this traditional and much-loved event. Usually held on the Friday after Thanksgiving, Bunker has moved it for a few reasons.
“Some folks who contacted me after I signed on wanted their visiting relatives to witness the parade, and I get that,” she says. “But the parade is a tradition for locals, and to ask our hard-working volunteers to sacrifice their Thanksgiving holiday struck me as unfair. Plus, having it on the Saturday following allows those who wish to participate more time to decorate their boats, and on a day that likely does not interfere with their work schedules.”
Bunker is no stranger to boat parades. For six years, she organized the longest-running boat parade in the country: the Pompano Beach Boat Parade. She was more recently the impetus behind the America 250 Boat Parade out of Sunset Beach.
“I was told that I’d have a hard time getting boats, but that wasn’t the case,” Bunker says. “We fielded about 35 boats in our first attempt to honor a charity called the Those Who Served Foundation, and about 800 people showed up in Sunset Park to watch the event.”
For Bunker, a straight-shooting firecracker of a gal who absolutely does not mince words (often times with the salty lexicon of a seasoned sailor), the charities she supports have to be worthy.
That’s why this year’s boat parade will honor three worthy causes: the Those Who Serve Foundation, Empowering Paws and the Old Bridge Historical Society.
And her selection of a Grand Marshal has been given considerable thought. Eschewing celebrities or political figures, she wanted it to be someone known with roots in the community.
To that end, she chose Tripp Kelly, owner of a local business called RipTide Bins, a business he started when he was just 14. Kelly also holds down another job. Not a bad resume for a young man who’s slated to graduate high school this year.
Running an event like this is no simple undertaking and usually requires 10 to 11 months of lead time. Bunker has her work cut out for her and just 10 to 11 weeks to work with. Financially, an event of this magnitude can cost upwards of $15,000 to launch.
“Charities have to be paid, prizes have to be awarded and sponsors have to be found to help,” she says.
The winner of the Best Boat in Show will take home $1,000, and first place in the various subcategories will net $750.
Bunker is a professional photographer by trade, specializing in pet, family and lifestyle portraiture. She lives in and is dedicated to South Brunswick County and thinks the event should cater to those who also make their homes here.
Her youthful vigor, rapid-fire delivery and appearance belie her 61 years, and she’s definitely a person who enjoys and relishes life.
That she wants to apply her considerable energy and talents to this much-loved traditional event should be considered a boon to residents of the South Brunswick community. She’s even gone so far as to alter the route of the parade, making it considerably longer and visible to more spectators.
In the past, the flotilla would be visible from the Inlet View restaurant to Sharky’s in OIB. This year, the route will stretch from Sunset Beach to Shallotte Point, affording more folks an opportunity to view the floating parade.
Bottom Line? The beloved show will go on, thanks to the pluck and expertise of human dynamo named Rhonda Bunker who cares about her community.
And that’s a Christmas gift worthy of thanks.
Any individual or any business who wants to sponsor the event, volunteer or participate in the flotilla should contact Rhonda Bunker at her email address: rhonda@ncompassphotography.com.
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