Video above: Lighted boats cruise down the Hillsborough River for the 2023 parade.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Christmas season is here. And what better way to celebrate the holidays— Florida style— than with boat parades?
For more than 60 years, holiday boat parades have become a Florida tradition every weekend leading up to Christmas, according to the Florida Rambler.
Grab your swimsuits and Santa hats and catch one of these 43 parades near you.
Saturday, Nov. 30
Jiggs Landing Holiday Boat Parade in Bradenton
- 6106 63rd Street East
- Parade begins at sunset at Jiggs Landing
Jacksonville Lighted Boat Parade
- Begins at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront Hotel
- The parade concludes with waterfall fireworks on Main Street and Acosta Bridge
Friday, Dec. 6
Tarpon Springs Illuminated Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. down the Anclote River and into the bayous
- Santa will hand out treats in Spring Bayou
- Best view spot: Whitcomb Bayou, Craig Park, or Spring Bayou
- Boats must be registered to enter for the judging at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 7
Alafia Lighted Boat Parade
- Riverview Park and Civic Center
- Parade starts at 5 p.m. at Williams Park and will conclude around 7 p.m. at River’s Edge for awards and a VIP party
Venice Christmas Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6 p.m. just north of the Albee Road bridge
- Route will head south on the Intracoastal out to the channel marker in the jetty before circling back, continuing south and ending at the Circus Brudge
Fort Myers Beach Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6 p.m. at Salty Sam’s Marina
- Best view spot: End of the canals or the fountain next to Nervous Nellies
Lake Weir Holiday Boat Parade
- Pre-parade festival with food vendors, live music, a toy drive, and an appearance from Santa starts at 10 a.m.
- Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. (boat launch at 5:30 p.m.) at Carney Island Boat Ramp
- The parade will end at Eaton’s Sandbar and Grill
Mount Dora Lighted Boat Parade
- Downtown Waterfront and Donnelly Park
- Parade begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Lighthouse across from Gilbert Park on Tremain Street and Liberty Street
- The Marine Corps Reserve will be accepting new unwrapped toys or cash donations from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6 p.m. at North Palm Beach Marina on Marina Drive
- Volunteer bosts will travel for dockside pickups for Toys for Tots donations
- Best view spots: North Palm Beach Marina, Juno Park, Bert Winters Park, Sawfish Bay Park, and Harbourside Place
Palm Valley Boat Parade
- Parade starts at 6:30 p.m. one mile south of Palm Valley Bridge
- Route heads north for seven miles, ending in Marsh Landing
- Best view spots: Near the bridge, end of Canal Street, Mickler’s Wharf, or restaurants along Roscoe Boulevard
Sunday, Dec. 8
Leesburg Christmas on the Water
- Pre-parade activities begin at 5 p.m. with holiday music and live performances, food trucks, lighting ceremony and free hay rides
- Parade begins at 6:15 p.m. at Venetian Gardens Park
- To enter, contact Fred O’Brien at 352-326-8274
Friday, Dec. 13
Cocoa Village Holiday Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6 p.m. at Coca Riverfront Park
- All proceeds benefit the Sharing Center of Central Brevard
Lantana-Boynton Beach, Delray Beach Holiday Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Ocean Avenue Bridge in Lantana
- Route will head south into Delray Beach
- Best view spots: Boynton Harbor Marina, Intracoastal Park, Jaycee Park, Veterans Park, and Knowles Park
- Toys for Tots will collect new, unwrapped toys
Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 7 p.m. at Lake Santa Barbara
- Route will travel north to Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach
- Best view spots: Sullivan Park, North Riverside Park, Scott Winters Memorial Park, NE 16th Street Park, Harbor’s Edge Park, Alsdorf Park, and the restaurants along the Intracoastal Waterway in Pompano, Lighthouse Point, and Deerfield Beach
Saturday, Dec. 14
Clearwater Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6 p.m. on Mandalay Channel
- Boats will travel along the inlets of Island Estates and under the Memorial Causeway Bridge to wrap up at the Clearwater Yacht Club
Madeira Beach Festival of Lights Illuminated Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Post and will end at John’s Pass
- There will be holiday music, food, and spirits
- Best view spot: ROC Park
Apollo Beach Light Boat Parade
- Parade starts at 6 p.m. near marker 12 in the south basin of Apollo Beach
Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade
- Pre-parade festivities include holiday music and the annual celebration on Old Main Street
- Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. in Bradenton
- Best view spots: Riverhouse, Pier 22, and the Bradenton Yacht Club
Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
- Parade ebigins at 6 p.m.
- Best view spots: Bayfront Park and Marina Jack (reservations required)
Homosassa Christmas Boat Parade
- Parade begins after dark at the Homosassa River and Prices Creek
- Boats will travel to the Marguerita Grille and around the restaurants, parks, and marinas
Sebring Christmas Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 7 p.m. on Big Lake Jackson
- Route will go from Don Jose Mexican Restaurant, around the lake and back to the restaurant
- Best view spots: Don Jose’s, Veterans Beach, City Peir, Hidden Beach, Crescent Beach, and Sunset Grille
Key Largo Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 7:30 p.m. at mile marker 103 Bayside in Blackwater Sound
- Best view spots: Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill, Sundowner’s, and the Caribbean Cub
Christmas Boat Parade on Naples Bay
- Parade begins at 6:15 p.m.
- Best view spots: Naples City Dock (ticketed), Pinchers Tin City, Riverwalk Restaurant, Naples Landing, Kelly’s Fish House, The Boat House on Naples Bay, and Bayview Park
New Smyrna Beach Boat Parade
- Parade will pass Riverside Park in downtown NSB and along the North Causeway to Riverview and will circle back to Riverside Park
- Best view spots: Riverside Drive, Smyrna Yacht Club, Riverside Park, Anglers Yacht CLub, NSB Boat & Ski Club, Outriggers Tiki Bar & Grille, and The Grille at Riverview
St. Augustine Regatta of Lights
- Parade begins at the St. Augustine Yacht Club
- Best view spots: The bayfront seawall between Bridge of Lions and the Castillo de San Marcos and any restaurants facing the river
Indian River County Holiday Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6 p.m. in Vero Beach
- Best view spots: Merrill Barber Bridge, Riverside Cafe, Riverside Park, Veterans Memorial Island, Quail Valley River Club, Young’s Park, and Royal Palm Pointe
Martin County Holiday Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. in Stuart
- Best view spots: Stuart City Docks, Stuart Riverwalk, Evans Crary Bridge, Sandspirit Park,a dn Manatee Pockets dock
St. Lucie County Holiday Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6 p.m. in Fort Pierce
- Best view spots: Fort Pierce Cirt Marina Boat Ramp/Park, South Causeway, Museum Pointe Park, Riverside restaurants along A1A, and South Jetty Park
Bonita Springs Christmas Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. at Bay Water Boat Club
- Route moves east on the Imperial River past Riverwalk Park and U.S. 41
Carrabelle Holiday on the Harbor and Boat Parade of Lights
- Parade festivities begin at 11 a.m. through 6 p.m. with music, shopping, festival vendors, and a visit from Santa
- Route will go along the Carrabelle River, east of Apalachicola on U.S. 98
- Parade will conclude with a fireworks show
Fort Lauderdale Winterfest Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. at the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale
- Route moves east to the Intracoastal Waterway, then heads north on the Intracoastal to Lake Santa Barbara
- Best view spots: High Taylor Birch State Park and Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park
Cocoa Beach Christmas Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. at Marker 101 near Centennial Park on SR-520
- Best view spots: Sunset Cafe, Wildlife Watersports, End of South Banana River Boulevard, and Cove Park
Key West Schooner Wharf Bar Lighted Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 8 p.m. at Key West Bight Marina at the Historic Seaport
- Boats are encouraged to be decorated to score bragging rights and prizes
Sunday, Dec. 15
Redington Beach and Indian Shores Holiday Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6 p.m. just south of the Park Boulevard Bridge
- Boats will travel south through the Intracoastal Waterway and end at the American Legion Post 273
Destin Harbor Lights Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6 p.m. followed by fireworks at 7:30 p.m.
- Best view spots: restaurants in Harborwalk Village, the Destin Bridge, the docks of the Harborwalk Boardwalk and the beaches at Norriego Point
Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6 p.m. at the Cochise Waterway
- Free shuttle service available between the Palm Coast Community Center, the Daytona State College parking lot and European Village
Friday, Dec. 20
Lake Osborne Holiday Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 7 p.m. at the Hive Waterfront Restaurant and Tiki Bar in Lantana
- Best view spots: John Prince Park and the campground area
Saturday, Dec. 21
Tampa Riverwalk Lighted Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6:15 p.m. at the southern tip of Davis Islands and goes up to Sparkman Wharf
- Best view spots: Armature Works, Channel Drive, Curtis Hixon, Davis Island, Harbour Island, Sparkman Wharf, and Water Works Park
Treasure Island Holiday Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6 p.m. just south of Treasure Island Causeway
- Best view spots: Treasure IslandGolf & Tennis Club, along the Treasure Island causeway Bridge and John’s Pass
Crystal River Christmas Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6:15 p.m. in Kings Bay
- Theme: Hallmark Movies and Holiday Films
- Best view spots: Crackers Restaurant, Dockside Ice Cream/Charlie’s Restaurant, The Crab Plant, Pete’s Pier, The Port Hotel/Waterfront Social Restaurant
Punta Gorda Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6:30 within Punta Gorda Isles
- Best view spot (by boat): Almar Drive
Daytona Beach Christmas Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6 p.m. along the Halifax River
- Benefits the VEterans Support Fund
- Best view spots: Chart House Restaurant, Daytona Marina and Boat Works, City Island, Manatee Island, and Halifax Harbor Marina
Marco Island Christmas Boat Parade
- Parade begins at 6 p.m. on the Marco River
- Best view spots: The Esplanade on SMokehouse Bay and Snook Inn