Thousands gathered to witness the 2009 Boat Parade on Saturday, which featured Santa Claus, tall ships and a giant glowing Michael Jackson.

Around 73 boats took part in this year's parade, which organiser Norma Thomson called the biggest annual spectator event on the Island.

"The fact we had 73 was really amazing," she said. "I don't know if it's because of the 400th Anniversary of the Island or if it was that we took a year off, but we haven't seen a turnout like this since we started.

"To see where this event has come from, it's amazing. All of the Front Street Restaurants were sold out and the Hamilton Princess was just packed."

She estimated that around 20,000 spectators came to watch the parade.

At the end of the night, it was John Carr who again took home the award for best boat with what was unarguably the most distinct boat of the night — which was decorated with a giant Michael Jackson and featuring a number of dancers.

While the ship blasted the singers hit song 'Thriller,' several others played Christmas favourites.

The Island's 400th Anniversary was a popular theme in this years parade, with several ships decorated to become tall ships.

Two boats took the theme beyond just 400 years, decorating the boats as erupting volcano's. Various variations of Santa Claus appeared throughout the parade, on sleighs lead by reindeer, sea horses and even Bermuda Hogges.

Several of the boats featured elaborate light shows, including a pouring teacup, a launching space shuttle and a fire breathing griffon.

Even well-known Bermuda boats got into the action, with the Spirit of Bermuda and the Police Boat Guardian lighting up for the event.

Thousands of visitors lined Hamilton's coastline, and Harbour Road was turned into a one-way road as hundreds parked their cars on the eastbound lane to watch the parade.

At the end of the parade, an impressive fireworks display lit up the sky.

Louis Carvello, who is visiting the Island from Grand Rapids, Michigan, said he was glad a taxi driver convinced him to come.

"This whole thing is just beautiful," he said. "You can really tell the kind of effort these people put into it.

Juliet DeSilva, eight, said that she wanted to convince her parents to dress up a boat next year. "It looks like so much fun," she said.