Who, or actually what, was that funny looking creature clowning around in the first boat to start the 70th annual Night in Venice celebration on Ocean City’s picturesque bayfront?

The furry, orange beast had googly eyes, huge feet and a frenetic personality that easily matched the energy level of any rambunctious child.

To Philly sports fans, there was no mystery.

The famous Flyers orange mascot Gritty made a special guest appearance as part of a flotilla of colorfully decorated boats that brought scores of cheering Philly sports fans to their feet Saturday evening.

Tens of thousands of spectators poured into town for Night in Venice, Ocean City’s biggest summer spectacle. This year’s boat parade featured a “70 Years of Champions” theme that celebrated the Philadelphia title teams going back seven decades.

Ocean City touts Night in Venice as the oldest boat parade and bayfront celebration at the Jersey Shore.

In all, 54 decorated boats Saturday evening traversed the lagoons and channels along the back bay from the Ocean City-Longport Bridge to Tennessee Avenue. Thousands of spectators lined the bayfront from different vantage points.

Boat after boat was decorated in a Philly sports theme to match the “70 Years of Champions” celebration, but the Super Bowl champion Eagles were featured the most.

“I’m feeling that the Eagles are taking over,” Night in Venice announcer Maryann McElroy said as yet another Eagles-themed boat passed by.

With that, McElroy’s 3-year-old grandson, Callum Conover, broke into an “E-A-G-L-E-S chant in the microphone.

“He’s a big Eagles fan. The first thing he learned was, ‘Go Birds,’” McElroy said with a laugh about Callum.

    A giant Phillie Phanatic character serves as a comical lookout for this boat.
  

One Eagles-themed boat included a replica of the Broad Street and Pattison Avenue road signs to honor the location of the sports complex in South Philly.

“That’s a good one,” McElroy said. “They have a street sign and everything.”

Boats paying tribute to the Phillies, Flyers, 76ers and Philadelphia Union soccer team also were featured in the parade.

Gritty was given the honor of joining legendary Flyers goalie Bernie Parent in the lead boat. Parent waved to the crowds on shore while Gritty pumped up the spectators with his comical antics.

Parent served as one of the Night in Venice grand marshals, along with Eagles fan favorite Vince Papale and former Phillies player and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., who is now is part of the Phillies broadcast team.

Mayor Jay Gillian, his wife, Michele, who is executive director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, and elected officials from Ocean City, Cape May County and the state were among the VIPs riding in the boats.

   The parade of boats makes its way up the back bay.   

Bayfront property owners get into the swing of things by dressing up their homes with elaborate decorations. Many of them compete in the city’s contest recognizing the best-decorated homes.

One public vantage point for catching all of the action was the Ocean City Bayside Center at 520 Bay Ave. Hundreds of people sat in the bleachers set up at the Bayside Center, applauding and cheering as each boat passed by only a stone’s throw away.

Hatboro, Pa. resident David Weir and his girlfriend, Megan Berkebile, of Warminster, Pa., had among the best seats overlooking the water at the Bayside Center.

“It’s great to see all of the boats elaborately decorated. The boats are fantastic and everyone does a great job decorating them,” Weir said, noting that he has been at Night in Venice a dozen times.

Berkebile was attending Night in Venice for the first time. For her, just being on the bayfront was a memorable experience.

“I grew up in western Pennsylvania and I’m used to being landlocked,” she said.

    Flyers mascot Gritty and legendary Flyers goalie Bernie Parent, who served as one of the Night in Venice grand marshals, wave to the crowds on shore.
  

Cindy and Jay Housel, a married couple from Easton, Pa., drove three hours to Ocean City on Saturday to catch the Night in Venice celebration. They were planning to drive back home after the hoopla was over. This was about the fifth time they have watched the boat parade.

“I love the creativity with the boats,” Cindy Housel said. “It’s cool with all of the different themes. I think it’s cool to come down here. Everyone is so nice.”

When asked if there was anything else they enjoyed about Night in Venice, the Housels looked at each other for a moment before Cindy answered.

“It’s Gritty,” she said, laughing. “I’m all for that. Give me Gritty any day.”

Photo Gallery

Night in Venice Boat Parade

Check out this gallery of the pageantry on Ocean City's bay.