South Florida’s holiday boat parades 2023: Most canceled, postponed due to weather

Phillip Valys, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Updated ·5 min read

NOTE TO READERS: With inclement weather likely to linger across South Florida through much of the weekend, consult websites that accompany these listings for the latest information on outdoor events. Some have already been postponed or canceled. See below.

This December, flotillas covered from bow to stern in Christmas elves and reindeer, festive tinsel and dancing Santa Clauses in palm-tree shirts have been decking our waterways during holiday boat parades across South Florida.

Here are events from Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale to Miami to help keep your Christmas spirits afloat.

Lantana/Lake Worth Beach (POSTPONED UNTIL DEC. 22)

What: Parade brass reports that 50 to 60 vessels festooned in bright lights will cruise around the lake for the ninth annual Lake Osborne Holiday Boat Parade, starting at 7 p.m. Dec. 15. The parade, as usual, is funded by the Osborne Yacht Club and by donations from Lantana-area residents. Visit the parade’s Facebook page.

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Routes: The two-hour counterclockwise procession will begin at The Hive Waterfront Restaurant and Tiki Bar (ex-Anchor Inn at 2412 Floral Road, Lantana) and motor north, hugging the eastern shoreline before turning around at Lake Worth Road and finishing back at The Hive. The prime vantage point is anywhere along the Lake Osborne Drive perimeter and the John Prince Park campground (2700 Sixth Ave. S., Lake Worth Beach), where food trucks will set up. Volunteers will collect unwrapped toys at The Hive.

Traffic: Parking is plentiful at The Hive and along Lake Osbourne Drive.

Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point and Deerfield Beach (POSTPONED UNTIL DEC. 21)

What: With a name as long as the route itself, the 61st annual CHAOS Greater Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach Holiday Boat Parade will chug along the Intracoastal from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 15. For this year’s theme — “A Salute to our First Responders” — organizers named Pompano Beach Fire Rescue and Ely Fire Cadets as grand marshals. The free flotilla of 50-plus boats, sponsored by CHAOS Fishing, will be livestreamed on YouTube.com/@MyPompanoBeach, and cash prizes will be awarded to best-decorated boats. Call 954-941-2940 or go to Chambermaster.PompanoBeachChamber.com.

Routes: The route will set sail from Lake Santa Barbara and crawl north past the Hillsboro Boulevard bridge and halt around Sullivan Park (1633 Riverview Road, Deerfield Beach). Among the live viewing areas are Sullivan Park (1633 Riverview Road, Deerfield Beach) and Alsdorf Park (2901 NE 14th St., Pompano Beach). Mitchell Moore Park (901 NW 10th St., Pompano Beach) will show it on a big screen; plan to provide your own chairs.

Traffic: Bridges on Atlantic Boulevard, 14th Street Causeway and Hillsboro Boulevard will be locked upright from 6 p.m. until the final boat passes by.

Boca Raton (CANCELED)

What: The city’s 49th annual Holiday Boat Parade will light up the Intracoastal from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 16, with $1,000 in prizes heading to winners in three categories (vessels under 25 feet, 26 to 34 feet, over 35 feet). Call 561-393-7700 or go to MyBoca.us.

Routes: The procession will begin at the C-15 canal (on the Delray-Boca border) and travel south to the Hillsboro Boulevard bridge. Visitors may view the parade at free staging areas at Red Reef Park (1400 N. Ocean Blvd.), Wildflower Park (551 E. Palmetto Park Road) and from Silver Palm Park (600 E. Palmetto Park Road).

Traffic: As the parade passes underneath, bridges will be upright at 6:50 p.m. at Spanish River, 7:20 p.m. at Palmetto Park and 7:30 p.m. at Camino Real. Parking is limited at Wildflower and Silver Palm Parks, but there should be plenty at Red Reef Park.

Fort Lauderdale (CANCELED)

What: It’s enough to be serenaded by passing flotillas bedecked in lights and tinsel, but this year’s 52nd annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade on Dec. 16 adds the R&B majesty of Boyz II Men as grand marshals. The parade gets going at 6:30 p.m. The best family-friendly perch is the Parade Viewing Area at Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park (300 Las Olas Circle), which costs $30 for adults and $25 for children 10 and younger. Chairs will be provided, along with more musical serenades from Fort Lauderdale’s own Alexander Star, plus The Shane Duncan Band and Southern Blood. The parade will be streamed live via Winterfest’s Facebook page. A week later, it’s set to be broadcast at 7 p.m. Dec. 22 on WSVN-Ch. 7. Call 954-241-7938 or go to WinterfestParade.com.

Routes: Stretching from Stranahan House in downtown Fort Lauderdale north to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach, the 12-mile route will feature by far South Florida’s biggest fleet of yachts and boats decked out with holiday decorations.

Traffic: Schedules for all eight bridge closings (from 6 to 8:30 p.m.) are listed on the Winterfest Boat Parade website.

Miami (CANCELED)

What: At least 75 boats decked out in dancing Santas, twinkling lights and garlands will light up Biscayne Bay during Miami Outboard Club’s 25th annual Holiday Boat Parade starting at 7 p.m. Dec. 16. The procession benefits Centro Hispano Catolico Child Care Center and Centro Mater Foundation, and visitors can donate unwrapped toys at the club (1099 MacArthur Causeway). Call 305-668-6176 or go to MocMiami.com.

Routes: Motorboats will blanket the bay along the Bayfront Park shoreline before the procession hangs north, passing under the MacArthur Causeway, and weaves around Star, Palm and Hibiscus islands before looping back to Bayfront.

Traffic: We’re talking about Miami here, but try the metered spaces and parking garages sprinkled around Bayside Marketplace (401 Biscayne Blvd.), Bayfront Park and Brickell, which is where you’ll find the best viewing areas.