Santa doesn’t always travel by sleigh.
Santa does n’t always locomote by sleigh — sometimes he travels by boat . The North Pole ikon is a frequent fixture this sentence of year , headlining festivals and posting up on shopping mall can all over the world . This is a guy who clocks more milage thanTaylor Swift on her Eras Tour , and he ’s not taking a term of enlistment bus or a PJ . In parliamentary procedure to make the myriadChristmas market and holiday happeningson his stacked calendar , it seems as if Santa travels byyacht . Holiday boat parade are big business nowadays , offer an kinky option to familiar Christmas fodder , in which bedazzled sauceboat set sail with promising lights , merry music , and of course of study , persona aplenty .
These vacation boat parades are typically retain after sunset , so theaforementioned lights can twinkle and shine . They can be ascertain in lakes , rivers , and marina all over the US , while a few can be line up abroad . In some cases , they ’re a way to put a tropical spin on holiday celebrations inwarmer localeswith far more sand than nose candy . In others , it ’s a way to take thechilly cheerto a whole new level , complete with pop - up beer gardens , bedazzled bayous , and fireworks shows . Without further hustle , here are the best and shiny holiday gravy boat parades setting sheet around the world .
Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights Sponsored by Amazon
December 2 , 2023Alexandria , VirginiaFrom the National Christmas Tree to candlelit concert , there ’s no deficit ofholiday cheerfulness to be establish in Washington , DC . But one of the most enduring traditions is one that takes spot on the pee . Now enter its twenty-third class , theAlexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lightstransforms the Old Town Alexandria Waterfront Park into a regular winter wonderland , even if Charles Percy Snow is n’t in the forecast . Part of awhole weekend of issue , the festivities get afoot in the good afternoon , with a pop - up beer garden from Port City Brewing Company , family games and natural action , and food , followed by the parade at 5:30 pm .
Santa make it , via fireboat , at the Alexandria City Marina at 3:30 pm , while the floating parade departs from the marina and sails southwards along the Potomac for one geographical mile to Ford ’s Landing Park , which is innkeeper to legion boats decorated with lighter and bangle . On ground , activity include ornament - fashioning and a post card station for writing letters to Santa , while dockside food vendors will be slinging everything from hot cocoa to empanadas to pizza by - the - slicing to Santa ’s favorite bite — cookies . There ’s also a concurrent Canal Center Holiday Art Mart , at Old Town North waterfront , with a sprawling holiday bazar filled with prowess , time of origin point , food , and more .
Harbor Lights Festival
December 16 , 2023Kodiak , AlaskaSanta need n’t travel far for theHarbor Lights Festivalin Kodiak , Alaska . host by the Kodiak Maritime Museum since 2013 , and held a snowball ’s cam stroke from the North Pole , the festival experience the area ’s fishing boats and sports boat daze with lights , tinsel , and strain . hold this class at 6 pm on December 16 , optimal wake platform can be ascertain at St. Paul Harbor and St. Herman ’s Harbor , and meeter are encourage to cast their votes for “ Best Decorated Boat ” after the show at the Harbor Convention Center , while savour cookies , live burnt umber , and live vacation music . Unlike most parades , sauceboat at the Harbor Lights Festival are anchored at their sorrel for safety concern ( December in Alaska = total dark ) , allowing for Guest to take the air around and get close looks at the participants .
St. Croix Christmas Boat Parade
December 9 , 2023St . Croix , US Virgin IslandsIt might be hard to get into the vacation spirit when you ’re somewhere where the medium Christmas temperature is 82 arcdegree Fahrenheit . But on St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands , where sugary - white sand is the closest it draw to snow , a longstanding Christmas parade brings a carload of cheer . Founded in 1998 , and entering its 23rd year , theSt . Croix Christmas Boat Paradehas become one of the most iconic renditions of the form , stand from the heartwarming desire to bring the holiday spirit to Christiansted — with a clearly Caribbean twist .
An all - twenty-four hour period affair , theevent begins at noonon the Christiansted Boardwalk , with seller sell food , drinks , and endowment , plus appearing from Santa . The parade kicks off at 6 pm , beckoning a spree of illuminated boats of all form and sizes , set to Christmas music as they voyage across the historic harbor . It all culminates with a fireworks show , and an prize show and party takes space atDeep End Bar and Grill , with trophies give in dissimilar tiers , like sailing boat , small power boat , and large ability boat .
Christmas on the Bayou
December 9 , 2023Gulfport , MississippiAfter depart in 2000 as a pocket-sized smattering of of jolly boatman cruising through a coastal Mississippi bayou , the competently dubbedChristmas on the Bayouhas ballooned into a majorly merry event that sees boats and place alike amaze in on the gay action mechanism . The parade itself , which set about from Gulfport Lake at 6 pm on December 9 , floats down Bayou Bernard to the oral fissure of the bayou at Big Lake . En route , bleacher seating area is available at Gulfport Lake and the Cowan Lorraine Bridge , and bayou - side homes are just as decorated and lambent as the boats themselves , decorated to look like sleighs , trains , and the North Pole , with lots of Santas , Greenland caribou , and dolphins to kicking .
Bribie Island Christmas Lights Boat Parade
December 9 , 2023Queensland , AustraliaSanta is channelize to the opposite pole this class for a sheeny gravy boat parade through the canals of Birbie Island . nestle off the coast ofQueensland , this oasis of guts and sunlight is the stage setting for theBribie Island Christmas Lights Boat Parade , running all twenty-four hour period long on December 9 . The festivity begin with Santa soaring through the canals and doling out candy to kid from 1:30 to 5 Prime Minister . Meanwhile , aMunch food market — a food - filled daddy - up at the Pacific Harbour Marina — will run from 2 to 7 pm , just as the boat parade amaze underway . At 7 Prime Minister , kaleidoscopic boats begin cruise the canal , clad in all manner of jolly decor . The public is welcome to enter their boats for free , and prize are handed out for decorations .
Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade
December 9 , 2023Bradenton , FloridaIn the Tampa - side by side community of Bradenton , Santa trades reindeer for manatees . Such is the casing at theManatee River Holiday Boat Parade , a non - profit organization that puts on its one-year spectacle that “ brings the heart of the vacation to our community . ” Each twelvemonth sees a fleet of gravy boat , large and small , decked to the Nina from Carolina in vacation decor , with this twelvemonth ’s parade launching from Snead Island at sundown on December 9 . Public viewing domain are centered around the Green Bridge and Palmetto Pier — prime perches for watch Santa and his gremlin sail by on their musical yacht . For something a little additional , waterside restaurants likeOak & Stoneare hostingprivate viewing partiesthis year , with reserved tables on the rooftop deck of cards , unadulterated with food and drink . Once the parade winds down at 8:30 post-mortem - ish , an after party trace at the Bradenton Yacht Club , where costless food and a immediate payment bar are joined by live music , raffle prizes , and awards proclamation for best dressed boats .
Lake Havasu City Boat Parade of Lights
December 9 , 2023Lake Havasu City , ArizonaA vacation boat parade in the Arizona desert sound like an oxymoron , but then again , this is the time of twelvemonth for magic and miracles . In Lake Havasu City , the western Arizona residential district most known for its very own London Bridge ( yes , really ) , a sauceboat parade embarks on December 9 at 6 atomic number 61 , transmute the desert oasis into a vibrant display of richly decorate boats and floating Christmas trees . set off at 6 promethium , theLake Havasu City Boat Parade of Lightsis a marquis second from the calendar month - long Festival of Lights , which figure more than 500,000 Christmas lights string up along the London Bridge and all over the Bridgewater Channel . The parade is best consider fromLake Havasu State Park , and it ’s advised that meeter show up when gates candid at 4 pm , since prime beach spot run to fill up quick .
Holiday Boat Light Parade at Lake Lanier
December 9 , 2023Gainesville , GeorgiaFor one magical nighttime in December , a lake in north Georgia transforms into a shimmering beacon of Christmas cheerfulness . Welcome to theHoliday Boat Light Parade at Lake Lanier , where a lustrous lineup of vessels sail along the tree diagram - line shores of the exuberant region . The pageant kicks off at 5 pm from due north of Port Royale , sailing pastPelican Pete’sandAqualand , before roll to the justice tables byPig Tales . It all fetch up atMargaritaville , where an afterparty includes live music , nutrient , potable , and an laurels ceremony .
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
December 10 and 17 , 2023San Diego , CaliforniaOne of the longest - running boat parades , theSan Diego Bay Parade of Lightshas been parading around the Pacific Coast for 53 years . It ’s such a seasonal showcase that there are two parades , held this twelvemonth December 10 and 17 , and attendance reckon more than 100,000 San Diegans flocking to the bay to see the spectacle . Upwards of 80 boat , each one abundantly decorated and illuminated to this class ’s report of “ Christmas Traditions Around the World , ” will embark from Shelter Island at 5:30 postmortem , before sail past Harbor Island , The Embarcadero , Seaport Village , The Pier at Cesar Chavez Park , and eventually , Ferry Landing on Coronado .
Festival of Lights Boat Parade
December 16 , 2023Honolulu , HawaiiIt might notfeellike the holidays , temperature - wise , but it ’ll sure await like it at theFestival of Lights Boat Paradepresented by Hawaii Kai Town Center inHonolulu . Perfect for those who opt sandal over snow boot , the annual Hawaiian tradition features an array of bedecked boat cruising by the Marina Docks . sustain from 4 to 7 postmortem , the parade features boats of all sizes dolled up in their holiday best , vying for the title of the merriest in the fleet . On demesne , attendant can spin out a swag bicycle for the chance to bring home the bacon gift cards to area businesses .
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
December 13–17 , 2023Newport Beach , CaliforniaAn ikon on the vacation boat parade electrical circuit , theNewport Beach Christmas Boat Paradehas been a seasonal tentpole for 115 years , since an Italian gondoliere and a develop of Balboa Island get a modest Tournament of Lights . Over the subsequent one C , the show has evolved exponentially , to include a bevy of boats , themes , and parade routes . Far more than mere yachts and sailboats , this is an all - encompassing event that realize all way of water system vas — including kayak and canoes — sail along the harbour over the course of instruction of five consecutive sidereal day .
Each nighttime , from December 13 to 17 , floating parades begin at 6:30 pm from Tip of Lido Isle , with the largest and good public screening stop being at the 10.5 - Akko Marina Park . There are also several waterfront restaurants , a.k.a . Dine & Watch fix , that are ideally located for dinner party and a show . A fireworks display kicks thing off on opening night , at 6:15 phase modulation on December 13 from the Newport Pier , before culminate with a closing fireworks show at 9 necropsy on December 17 from Balboa Pier .
Dawson City’s Annual Boat Parade
December 17 , 2023Dawson City , CanadaWhen the boat parade is held someone so arctic that the river is too frozen to be adrift , you know you ’re in the correct place . Dawson City ’s Annual Boat Parade , guard in a polar portion of the Yukon , is the rarified boat parade that direct office on land . Since the nearby Yukon River is too icy , this real - business deal wintertime wonderland simply tow boats around town on snow roads . This yr ’s event commemorate the twentieth anniversary of this unique holiday excursion , with embellish boat go from the Visitor Information Center at 6 autopsy on December 17 . gondola and hand truck push their gravy holder all over town , and spectator can watch from the affectionate confines of their home , cars , or hotels .
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Visit Alexandria VA
Mystcroix.vi
Annual Bribie Island Christmas Lights Boat Parade
Go Lake Havasu
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
Photo courtesy of Hawaii Kai Towne Center
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
