Lighted boat parades in the Florida Keys

It’s a Florida Keys tradition—lighted boat parades celebrating the holiday season with twinkling lights, warm breezes, and perhaps a Santa sighting or two. Help St. Nick celebrate the season in style by visiting one of the following lighted boat parade in the Florida Keys:

• The famous Schooner Wharf Bar Lighted Boat Parade in Key West begins Saturday, Dec. 12, 8 p.m. with lighted and decorated vessels, from rowboats to tall ships traveling around Key West’s Historic Seaport and harbor areas, and all of the local bars and restaurants along the harbor will be ideal spots to view the parade. The parade is to feature the music of the best world beats from Africa and Caribbean island rhythms of George Victory and the Observant Lion Band and the Gerald Adams Elementary School Steel Your Heart Band. Judges will observe the parade from the Schooner Wharf Bar, 202 William St.
• The “Hooray for Hollywood” Holiday Boat Parade begins on Saturday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m. in Blackwater Sound in Key Largo. The seafaring procession starts out from the bay front area on Blackwater Sound, located around mile marker (MM) 104. Each entry in the fabulous parade of decorated, musical boats competes for cash, prizes and yearlong bragging rights for Best in Parade, Best Use of Theme, Most Colorful, Most Original, Best Business and Best Boat under and over 25 feet in length. Spectators are invited to enjoy the festivities at Sundowners, Señor Frijoles, the Marriott Key Largo Bay Resort and the Caribbean Club, all near MM 103-104.
• The Key Colony Beach Lighted Boat Parade at Key Colony Beach starts at dusk on Sunday, December 13. Christmas lights on outriggers and displays on boat decks are part of the beautiful festivities during the Key Colony Beach Boat Parade in the Middle Keys, set to begin at the 7th Street canal and wind in and out of neighboring canals. Great locations for public viewing include Sadowski Causeway at MM 53.5 oceanside and the area behind City Hall.