[NOTE: This year’s Winterfest Boat Parade has been cancelled.]
One of our favorite holiday traditions is upon us: the Seminole Hard Rock’s famous Winterfest Boat Parade in Fort Lauderdale! This South Florida holiday classic is returning in full force to celebrate its 52nd anniversary and the spirit of the season.
Dubbed the “Best Show on H2O” several years in a row, the boat parade features a one-of-a-kind array of beautifully decorated boats of all sizes — from yachts to paddleboards — and it’s a total can’t-miss extravaganza. With over a million spectators along the 12-mile parade route, the parade where the floats really float is a Fort Lauderdale institution.
This year, the boat parade will be taking over Fort Lauderdale’s waterways on Saturday, December 16, with grand marshals Boyz II Men.
For this year’s celebrations, the Winterfest Boat Parade will also feature special events and activations all throughout the day including food and drink vendors, as well as family activities that will make you feel all merry and bright. Throughout the night, there will be live performances by the Shane Duncan Band and Southern Blood alongside iHeart Radio personalities.
The parade will kick off at 6:30 p.m. and will last around two and a half hours as it makes its way east along the New River in Fort Lauderdale to the Intracoastal Waterway.
For those wishing to book their spot in the viewing area, tickets are available on the Winterfest Boat Parade website. If you can’t make it to the parade live, you can watch it on TV or on Facebook.