Winterfest Boat Parade in Fort Lauderdale on TV & YouTube

Posted by:
Author Patti Roth

Popular and festive, the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade features elaborately decorated boats floating in formation on The New River & Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale.

The event in 2025 is 5:30 p.m. to about 8 p.m. Saturday, December 13, featuring a prime outdoor watch area in Fort Lauderdale with live entertainment, food vendors and a jolly vibe. The 2025 theme is “Yacht Rock of Ages.”

Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with a pre-show of non-motorized vessels along the New River in Fort Lauderdale. The parade will begin at 6 p.m. The 2025 grand marshals are artist Romero Britto and rhythm and blues star Montell Jordan.

The event will feature:

Seminole Hard Rock Grand Marshal Showboat, presented by Fifth Third, decorated with creations by Romero Britto
Santa Showboat leading the parade
First-ever EDM floating stage
Salute to the Military entry by FutureTech
Bluefoot Pirate Adventures with Pirates and the Florida Children’s Theatre
Piper High School marching performers
Visit Lauderdale’s Grand Finale showboat
Aqua Flight’s aquatic fire & water stunt show
Drums of Polynesia fire show
Spectacular Dragon entry

Winterfest Boat Parade on TV and online

If you'd like to see it from the sofa, videos of the parade are featured on

WSVN 7

5 a.m. December 25 & January 1

12 p.m. December 25 & January 1

YouTube

Photo: Winterfest

You may buy tickets to watch from the official parade viewing area at Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park. Prices are about $40 for 11 and older, $35 for 4-10 and younger and free age 3 and younger. Nab discounts of $5 off while the promotion is offered. Taxes and fee are extra.

Gates open at 4 p.m. and is entertainment and other activities before the parade. Entertainment includes Shane Duncan Band.

You can also reserve a seat at a restaurant or pub along the route, or pick a place along the waterways. If you're not watching in person, the parade is featured live on YouTube and Facebook and recorded versions are aired 7 p.m. Friday, December 20; 5 a.m. and 12 p.m. December 25 and December 31 on WSVN TV.

The parade route is New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale, from 335 SE 6th Avenue, east to the Intracoastal Waterway, north to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano.

Parade Viewing Area

Events and activities are featured at the official paid parade viewing area at Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park, 300 Las Olas Circle, Fort Lauderdale 33316.

Gates open at 4 p.m., and festivities include live entertainment. The Shane Duncan Band will perform.

Parking for the prime watch area includes Las Olas Parking Garage, 200 Las Olas Circle, Fort Lauderdale 33316. Parking for the event is usually about $25 to $30. Parking information for Fort Lauderdale is on the website.

The parade route is New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale, from 335 SE 6th Avenue, east to the Intracoastal Waterway, north to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano.