SEMINOLE HARD ROCK WINTERFEST BOAT PARADE · SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2026

The Winterfest Boat Parade, From the Front Row — On Your Own Private Boat

A million spectators line the shore — you'll be on the water, right in the middle of it. A private boat for your family and friends, a USCG-licensed captain at the helm, and the best seat in Fort Lauderdale for the most spectacular show on H2O.

Parade starts 6:00 PM · Pre-show 5:30 PM · One boat per group — three boats only

The 55th Annual Winterfest Boat Parade — Saturday, December 12, 2026

The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade stages on the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale and starts at 6:00 PM by Stranahan House, after a 5:30 PM pre-show of non-motorized vessels. The fleet then travels east along the New River to the Intracoastal Waterway and continues north to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach: 12 miles of decorated boats, hundreds of thousands of lights, music and entertainment, watched by over a million spectators. The parade takes about 2.5 hours to pass from any one spot — and the best spot of all is on the water itself, as the illuminated boats glide right past you.

Also this December: our Christmas Lights tour through the canals of Fort Lauderdale.

A VIP Evening — Front-Row Seats on the Water

Front-row position on the parade route — the decorated fleet passes right by your boat
No crowds, no bleachers, no parking hunt — your evening starts when you step aboard
Truly private: just your family and your friends on board
Bring your own bottles and beverages — your drinks, your playlist, your night (BYOB)
Your captain positions the boat on the route and handles everything on the water

Last Year's Parade — From Our Boats

Choose Your Boat — 5-Hour Parade Evening

All three of our boats are available for parade night as a 5-hour evening rental, timed around the parade (6:00–8:30 PM). One group per boat — when a boat is booked, it’s gone.

Axopar XC – Brabus 38 ft

Up to 12 guests
5-Hour Parade Rental: $1,800
Captain: $300

✓ Air-conditioned cabin and bathroom on board
✓ Wet bar, table and Bluetooth speaker
✓ 18-ft floating mat — gas included
✓ Largest and most premium — up to 12 guests

Four Winns – 27 ft

Up to 12 guests
5-Hour Parade Rental: $1,150
Captain: $225

✓ Spacious open deck — up to 12 guests
✓ 18-ft floating mat and Bimini top for shade
✓ Onboard stereo — be your own DJ
✓ Bathroom and table on board; gas included

Bayliner – 21 ft

Up to 6 guests
5-Hour Parade Rental: $900
Captain: $200

✓ Ideal for small groups — up to 6 guests, best value
✓ 9-ft floating mat and Bimini top for shade
✓ Onboard stereo — be your own DJ
✓ BYOB welcome — coolers, ice, gas included

Tax-included bareboat rental. You independently choose, hire and pay a qualified captain directly and separately. Our list is optional.

Also This December: Our Christmas Lights Tour

Another magical December night on the water: a 2-hour private boat tour through Fort Lauderdale’s canals, past Millionaire’s Row mansions dressed in Christmas lights, with holiday music on board.

Ideal on a different evening — or if parade night sells out. Only in December and the first week of January.

Good to Know

Departure: Fort Lauderdale (15th Street, near 15th Street Fisheries)
BYOB welcome — bring your own bottles, beverages and snacks
Bluetooth speaker on board for your own music
Booking and questions: WhatsApp only for parade night — +1 786 616 4323

Winterfest Boat Parade — Questions

When is the 2026 Winterfest Boat Parade?

Saturday, December 12, 2026. The pre-show starts at 5:30 PM and the parade itself at 6:00 PM, ending around 8:30 PM.

Where does the parade go?

It starts on the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale, by Stranahan House, travels east to the Intracoastal Waterway and then north to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach — a 12-mile route. Your captain positions your boat on the route so the fleet passes right by you.

How long is the parade rental?

5 hours for the evening, timed around the parade, so you board, settle in with your drinks, watch the full parade and come back without rushing.

How many guests can we bring?

Up to 12 guests on the Axopar (38 ft) and on the Four Winns (27 ft), and up to 6 guests on the Bayliner (21 ft).

Can we bring our own drinks and food?

Yes — bring your own bottles, beverages and snacks (BYOB). It’s your private boat for the evening.

Is the captain included?

You choose, hire and pay a qualified captain directly and separately — the captain fee for the 5-hour evening is shown with each boat above. Our list of captains is optional.