The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of the 70th annual Billy Bowlegs Torchlight Parade, a milestone edition of one of the area’s longest-running community traditions.
- The parade rolled down Eglin Parkway on Monday, May 18, drawing enthusiastic crowds and what organizers called some of the most spirited entries in the event’s seven-decade history.
Winners:
- The 5 Ride, Inc. took home the Truck/Car/Van category.
- 850 Social Babes won the Float category
- Krewe of Dominique Youx claimed the Krewe title
- Panhandle United Roller Derby was named the winner in the Walkers category
Ted Corcoran, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, said the parade carries forward a tradition that dates back to a time when the route crossed the Brooks Bridge and ran along U.S. Highway 98.
“For the past 40-plus years, we’ve held the parade on Eglin Parkway, and we need every bit of that space to accommodate the entries and the families lining both sides of the road,” Corcoran said. “It is truly a community effort, and a magical tradition for our city.”
Corcoran credited several city departments with helping make the event possible, including the Fort Walton Beach Parks and Recreation Department for setting up the stage, the Fort Walton Beach Police and Fire departments for ensuring public safety and the city’s sanitation division for post-event cleanup.
The Chamber also recognized Okaloosa Gas for its sponsorship of the parade, calling the company’s support essential to keeping the annual tradition alive.
A full recording of the parade is available to watch at EmeraldCoastTV.com.
