Behind The Veil

Behind The Veil: The Woman behind The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade

Keith Season 6 Episode 3

Dawn Diehl has been a part of this historic South Florida tradition for over thirty years and now captains this vessel.  We will speak with her about what it takes to put on this massive production that is seen every year by over a million people and impacts the local economy by a whooping fifty million dollars.  We will also dive into her own cruise and what else is rocking the boat and making waves!

Dawn Diehl - Event Director, Winterfest Inc.

Dawn is happily married to George and has three sons.  A Broward County Native, Dawn’s love for Winterfest developed when she watched the parade as a child and continued that tradition into adulthood. Dawn proudly celebrates her 33rd parade this year.  She is committed to creating quality, high-profile events for the community that brings family and friends together. Winterfest, celebrating 54 years that continues to grow and is an internationally recognized event, The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade has earned the title “The World’s Most Watched Boat Parade.” With over a million cheering spectators, the Parade has become not only the largest one-day live audience of any event in Florida, but also the seventh largest one-day spectator event in the country! 

Dawn is very proud that this tradition not only contributes to the aesthetic, cultural, and tourist development of the area, but it has an economic impact of over $50 million per year on her hometown!  Additionally, Dawn coordinates events for the Winterfest Foundation, a 501c3 organization.  

Dawn enjoys her community and charity involvement, serving as Chairman of the Board for Freedom Waters Foundation, past Chairman of the Board for Florida Festival & Events Association, past President of Children’s Opportunity Group (COG), currently serving on the Friends of Birch State Park Board, Becca’s Closet,   The Chamber of  Commerce Beach Council, and a variety of committees in the community. Always with intention and a goal of leaving the organizations better than she found them.

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Behind The Veil Crew:

Host: Keith Willard
www.keithwillardevents.com
www.instagram.com/keithwillard

Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg
www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com
www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

People on this episode