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Venetian Night Parade Finds New Home at Navy Pier Sept. 6

 A decorated vessel at a previous Venetian Night at Navy Pier. This year's theme is "Broadway on Parade," and boat decor will honor famous musicals.
A decorated vessel at a previous Venetian Night at Navy Pier. This year's theme is "Broadway on Parade," and boat decor will honor famous musicals.
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Flickr/goatling

STREETERVILLE — Navy Pier will light up with musical-inspired artwork Sept. 6 thanks to this year's Venetian Night parade theme, "Broadway on Parade."

Founded in 1958, it will be the 55th showcase of brightly lit boats in Chicago's history, and the first time Navy Pier will host the spectacle.

The premise: Yacht and boat owners decorate their vessels around each year's theme, and drift along the shoreline in a waterfront "parade" for spectators, typically followed by a city-funded fireworks show.

In 2009, the city's Department of Cultural Affairs pulled the plug on the long-running boat show, citing budget constraints. Then-Commissioner Lois Weisberg called it a "nice event" but one that "you can live without."

The Chicago Yachting Association resurrected the waterfront parade in 2012 on a smaller scale at Monroe Harbor. This year, Navy Pier partnered with the association to bring the "longtime favorite" boat show to Streeterville's shore.

Up to 20 boats will drift past the pier at 8:30 p.m. decorated with Broadway musical themes including "Wicked," "South Pacific," "The Lion King" and "Annie," accompanied by music from each show's score.

The boats will travel from the east end of Navy Pier along the South Dock, toward the city. A free fireworks show will follow.

Navy Pier said in a statement that the attraction was "proud" to "bring this Chicago tradition to the half mile stretch of Navy Pier’s South Dock for Chicagoans and visitors from around the world to experience."

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