Ocean City — The forecasted scattered thunderstorms held off and the evening gave way to a picturesque sunset on the bay - a perfect backdrop for Ocean City’s 55th annual Night in Venice celebration.

The boat parade kicked off at 8 p.m., with 72 decorated vessels winding their way from the Longport Bridge, through Ocean City’s lagoons, and down to 23rd Street. This year’s optional theme of “100th Anniversary of the Ocean City Baby Parade” was well represented, but as always, many participants both on land and at sea opted for a variety of themes and décor.

“I thought it went very well. There were a lot of colorful boats and they really lit up the night,” said City Publicist Mark Soifer. “The houses were nice, too - they always are.”

Soifer said, because of tides and the need to dredge in some south-end lagoons, some of the larger boats in the parade were unable to navigate to the very end of the lagoons. He said the parade was tremendous from the north point to the bridge, but there were some complaints in the south end.

“Some people liked it, but some felt boats could have gotten into the lagoons more,” Soifer said.

Nevertheless, he noted that the water patrol did a terrific job and the parade went well overall.

“I would like to commend Sue and Joe Canale and Mark Brody who ran the water,” said Soifer, “and of course all the volunteers. They did a great job. It’s really massive undertaking and I hope everyone appreciated it. It was a really good parade.”

For those who missed the parade, GoOc.com recorded the event. Footage from the parade - as well as interviews with participants and organizers - will run on Channel 2 starting today, July 30.

“We’re trying get more of an interactive presence for the city, trying to do more (live footage) with various functions, events and businesses,” said Jim Ginn of GoOc.com.

The footage will also be posted on the Chamber of Commerce website, the City of Ocean City’s website and on GoOc.com’s website as well, according to Ginn.

2009 Night In Venice Winners

BOAT RESULTS

(all listed as boat, captain, theme)

Boat Best of Show

Overall: Sponge Bob Square Pants, Ray Rafetto, “Under the Sea,” $1,000 prize;

24 feet and under: False Alarm, Doug Watkins, “Noche en Rio,” $500 prize;

More than 24 feet: Island Green, James Yoa, “O.C. Island Fantasia,” $500 prize;

Most original boat, 24 feet and under

1. Boat Buggy, Kristine Schneider, “Boat Buggy”

2. Blind Faith, Jeff & Marion White, no theme

3. 350 Bake, Larry Garvey, “Under the Sea of J. Cousteau”

Most original boat, over 24 feet

1. On the Rocks, Glenn Pierami, “Bernie Madoff”

2. Wet Bar, Steve Brasslett, “Star Wars”

3. Full Moon Too, John Ferguson, “OC # 1 Beach”

HM: Aurora, Rich & Kate Rizzo, “Night Under the Pyramid”

Best Decorated, 24 feet and under

1. Scooter, Carl Staff, “Railroad Engine”

2. Cavas Back, Don Pileggi, “Lights for Color”

3. Little, Karl Little, “The Mummers”

Best Decorated, over 24 feet

1. Whiteside, Bob Whiteside, “100th Anniversary Baby Parade”

2. T and L, Les Bredell, “Harry Kalas/Phillies”

3. Duke O’Fluke, Brooke Koeneke, “Delancy Place and Baby Parade”

Musical, 24 feet and under

1. Fit for Two, Rick Lawson, “100th Anniversary of Baby Parade”

2. CYI Fish, Clyde Vogt, “Thriller”

Musical, over 24 feet

1. Doctor Bones, Michael Harvey, “Rock the Dock/Michael Jackson”

Comic, 24 feet and under

1. Happy Ours, Vince Yanni, “Michael Jackson”

2. Chubby Chaser, Jerry Coombs, “Octo-Mom Nursery”

3. Popped, David Grace, “Hillbilly Christmas”

Comic, over 24 feet

1. For Pete’s Sake, Sue & Bob Thaete, “Life’s a Beach”

2. Watermate, David Woltemate, “Late Show with Letterman/Palin-ARod 2012”

3. Northstar Express, Paul Barrus, “Take Two Rocky Horror Picture Show”

Lighted, 24 feet and under

1. Cruisin’ Cousins, Ralph Bertolino, “Strolling in OC with a Bunch of Babies”

2. Cavas Back, Don Pileggi, “Lights for Color”

3. Scooter, Carl Staff, “Railroad Engine”

Lighted, over 24 feet

1. Full Moon Too, John Ferguson, “OC # 1 Beach”

2. Restless, James Spadafora, “Salt Water Cowboy”

3. Suffern, Robert Suffern, “Lettuce Go Green”

Classic, 24 feet and under (25 years old with historic value)

1. Casco, Mike Casera, “Poker Face”

2. Betty Jean, Doc Strange, “Long Live Rock n’ Roll”

3. Class of ‘57, Dale Bonsail, “Who Madoff with Our Yacht”

Children’s (decorated by children under age 15)

1. Cruisin’ Cousins, Ralph Bertolino, “Strolling in OC with a Bunch of Babies”

2. Fit For Two, Rick Lawson, “100th Anniversary of the Baby Parade”

3. The High Life, Jared Wagner, “Margaritaville”

Best Lead Boat

1. (no name), Tom Flemming, mayor

2. Miss Max, Marine Max, Miss Night in Venice

HOUSE RESULTS

House Best of Show ($100 prize)

Tamuri, Revere Place, “We Are the Champions”

Rafetto, Marshal Lane, “Under the Sea”

Fowler/Mockaitis, Pleasure Avenue, “Miracle on the Bay”

Dardine, W. 17th Street, “Survivors of the Lost Lagoon”

Cordell, Arkansas Avenue, “OC’s America’s Favorite”

Zone 1

1. Dombrowski, Bay Road, “Baby Face”

2. DuBois, Bay Road, “OC’s Super Heroes”

3. Allen, Bay Road, “Green Energy”

Zone 2

1. Carozza, North Point Road, “Night at the Lagoon”

2. Hornyak, North Point Road, “Viva Las Ocean City”

3. Shacklett, West Atlantic Blvd., “Black and White”

Zone 3

1. Tamburri, Revere Place, “We are the Champions”

2. Bellwoar, Pleasure Ave., “Golden Oldies”

3. Gustafson, Pleasure Ave., “American Idol”

Zone 4

1. Addock, W. 14th Street, “Philadelphia Phillies”

2. Adey/Mullen, Pleasure Ave., “Pleasure at the Graduate”

3. Zeach/Walker, Pleasure Ave., “OC Celebrating 100 years of Bay Bees”

Zone 5

1. Lawver, W. 16th St., “Derek Zoolander’s Center for Kids Who Can’t Read Good”

2. Bruccoleri, W. 16th St., “When You Wish Upon a Star, Ocean City’s Where You Are”

Zone 6

1. Macfarland, W. 17th St., “We’ve Come a Long Way Baby”

2. Caruso, W. 17th St., “Baseball Babes on the Bay”

3. Barber, W. 17th St., “Thanks for the Memories”

Zone 7

1. Lego/Pfeiffer, W. 17th St., “Twilight in Venice in OC”

2. Scanlon/Brandenberger, W. 17th St., “Born in the USA”

3. Osborne/Monszewski, W. 17th St., “OC Corral”

Zone 8

1. Croff/Hickey/Dorney, W. 17th St., “Phillies and OC World Champs”

2. Taylor, W. 17th St., “Our Blue Heaven”

3. Cassel, W. 17th St., “Baby Face”

Zone 9

1. Hoffman, W. 17th St., “La Gran Fiesta”

2. Johnson, W. 17th St., “Save the Earth”

Zone 10

1. Mita, Bayshore Road, “OC Baby Parade Alumni”

2. Mengo/Smith, W. 18th St., “1981 Baby Parade”

3. Fletcher, Bayshore Drive, “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby”

Zone 11

1. Weigel, Arkansas Ave., “Livin’ on Island Time”

2. O’Flynn, Arkansas Ave., “Candyland”

3. Lawrence, Walnut Road, “We’re from the Old School”

Zone 12

1. Paul/Bell, Glenwood Drive, “Halloween in Venice”

2. Palena, Glenwood Drive, “Angels and Demons”

3. Votta/Elias/Hegman, Glenwood Drive, “Show Me the Money”

Zone 13

1. Rafetto, Marshal Lane, “Under the Sea”

2. Cristella, Leyte Lane, “Happiest 1st Birthday Carson”

3. Ernst, Grenada Lane, “Phillies World Champs”

Zone 14

1. Perkins, Bay Ave., “NIV Meets an Evening in the Park”

(Results provided by the City of Ocean City Public Relations Department)