Fifteen Fabulous Fun Festive Flotillas (aka US Gulf Coast Holiday Boat Parades)
Some of the most festive holiday events are Christmas boat parades. Have you ever seen one? Have you ever been in a holiday boat parade?
All of these holiday boat parades are along the US Gulf Coast, and listed in order from Key West, up the Florida Gulf Coast, along the Alabama Gulf Coast, Coastal Mississippi, Louisiana Gulf, and down the Texas Gulf Coast.
Dates listed are for 2020 but certainly check and make sure the event date has not changed or been cancelled before committing to attend.
Fifteen Fabulous Fun Festive Flotillas (aka US Gulf Coast Holiday Boat Parades)
1. Schooner Wharf Bar Lighted Boat Parade, Key West, Dec 12
Calling themselves the “last little piece of Old Key West,” Schooner Wharf Bar hosts an Old Florida traditional Christmas boat parade. Here are our favorite things to do in Key West.
2. Boot Key Harbor Christmas Boat Parade, Marathon (TBD)
The 24th annual Boot Key Harbor Christmas Boat Parade follows a three mile course in the middle portion of the Florida Keys. While in the area, check out these fun spots to visit in the Florida Keys.
3. Key Largo Boat Parade, Dec 12
4. Christmas Boat Parade on Naples Bay, December 12
Join a boat and be in the parade or watch the festive flotilla from a cozy spot on land—our choice would be the rail at Pinchers Tin City with two dozen stone crabs in front of us. Here are our favorite Naples Florida restaurants.
5. Christmas Island Boat Parade Marco Island on December 12
Recommended viewing spots include The Esplanade on Smokehouse Bay and Snook Inn on the Marco River.
6. Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade, Dec 5
The 32nd annual Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade is a local favorite.
7. Punta Gorda Boat Parade, Dec 19
Also called “Saturday Night Before Christmas Eve Boat Parade” so that you can always remember the date. Four mile lighted boat parade on Punta Gorda canals with no commercial or political entries. YES!
8. Tampa Holiday Lighted Boat Parade, Dec 19
Find a spot along The Tampa Riverwalk for the popular and fun lighted boat parade, featuring small and large boat parades. We would love to watch it from Water Works Park to see the magnificent oak trees decorated with lights.
9. Treasure Island’s Lighted Boat Parade, Dec 5
See the fun and festive twinkling Christmas light boat parade from a spot between Treasure Island and John’s Pass. Then try one of our favorite nearby Florida Gulf Coast restaurants.
10. Tarpon Springs Illuminated Boat Parade, Dec 4
The Tarpon Springs Christmas boat parade looks fun because it features mostly the local sponge boats plus it is scheduled a day prior to many other boat shows.
11. Alabama Coastal Christmas Boat Parade, TBD
The boat parade begins in Gulf Shores Alabama, heads east into Pensacola Beach area, and returns into Alabama. The most crowded place to watch it likely is at the massive Flora-bama bar on the state line.
12. Christmas on the Water Boat Parade, Biloxi Mississippi, Dec 5
Enjoy the views of this fun festive Coastal Mississippi holiday event while sitting on USA’s largest manmade beach or from the Margaritaville Resort Biloxi.
13. Bayou Terrebone Christmas Boat Parade, Houma Louisiana, TBD
Celebrate a Louisiana Bayou Country holiday in the most Cajun of places. While there, eat all the bread pudding (seems to be better here for some reason) and check out this list of things to do in Houma.
14. Christmas Boat Lane Parade, Clear Lake Texas, Dec 12
This one looks massive. 2020 marks the 59th cersion of the Christmas Boat Lane Parade and last year saw crowds of other 100,000 people.
15. SPI Lighted Boat Parade, South Padre Island, Dec 5
While in tropical Texas for the holidays, the SPI Lighted Boat Parade is a must see. Grab some local carryout and enjoy the show. Here are some of our favorite South Padre restaurants.
Of course there are many other holiday boat parades, along the US Gulf Coast and all over the USA. Do you have any favorites?
