No. The City of Boca Raton ended its Holiday Boat Parade in 2024, and no 2026 Boca boat parade is posted. The nearest dated 2026 boat parades are Boynton Beach’s and Pompano Beach’s, both on Friday, Dec. 11. Downtown Boca’s own Holiday Street Parade, on land, is Wednesday, Dec. 2.
The Downtown Boca Raton Guide read each organizer’s page on Nov. 8, 2026, and links every one below. Where nothing is posted, we say so. This guide is not the City of Boca Raton, Downtown Boca (the Boca Raton CRA) or Mizner Park.
Boat parades near Boca Raton, 2026
Saturday, Dec. 5: Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade, 6 PM, North Palm Beach to Jupiter.
Friday, Dec. 11: Boynton Beach Holiday Boat Parade, 6 PM to 9 PM.
Dec. 11: Greater Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce Holiday Boat Parade, 6 PM to 9:30 PM.
Saturday, Dec. 12: Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, Fort Lauderdale, 6 PM.
Boca Raton: no boat parade. The land parade downtown is Wednesday, Dec. 2, 7:30 PM to 9 PM.
Why did Boca Raton stop its boat parade?
Falling participation, the City said. The Coastal Star reported on Dec. 4, 2024 that Boca Raton had ended its holiday boat parade, a city event since 1975. It quoted City spokeswoman Ileana Olmsted: participation had dropped despite more promotion. She pointed to neighbors that had merged their parades, Delray Beach with Boynton Beach in 2016 and Deerfield Beach with Pompano Beach earlier, which drew boaters and crowds to those events instead.
The year before, the parade had already been called off. The City’s own calendar still carries the listing “Holiday Boat Parade – CANCELED” for Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, on the Intracoastal Waterway, with the note that it was canceled because of severe weather and would not be rescheduled.
Is the Boca boat parade coming back in 2026?
Nothing the City has posted says so. The community events menu on the City’s Holiday Street Parade page lists the Holiday Tree Lighting, Merry in Mizner, the Holiday Street Parade and Boca Jolly Days for the 2026 season, and no boat parade. The web address the City once used for its boat parade page now returns a “page not found” error. If the City announces a return, it would appear on its Recreation Services community events pages first.
When are the nearest boat parades in 2026?
Two run on the same night to the north and south of Boca, so you can see only one of them:
- Boynton Beach, Friday, Dec. 11, 2026, 6 PM to 9 PM. The City of Boynton Beach’s holiday page lists the Holiday Boat Parade on the Intracoastal Waterway, with its official Boynton Beach watch location at Boynton Harbor Marina, 735 Casa Loma Boulevard.
- Pompano Beach, Dec. 11, 6 PM to 9:30 PM. The City of Pompano Beach’s event page lists the 64th Annual Greater Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce Holiday Boat Parade along the Intracoastal Waterway. The page shows the date without a year, so check it again before you go.
Two more fall on Saturdays. The Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County lists the 32nd Annual Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, rain or shine, starting at 6 PM and running up the Intracoastal from North Palm Beach to the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, arriving about 8 PM. In Broward County, the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Fort Lauderdale is Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, with a 5:30 PM preshow and the parade and fireworks at 6 PM; its organizer sells viewing-area admission and VIP tickets.
Parade start points, routes and bridge times move from year to year. Read the organizer’s page in the week of the parade.
What is the downtown Boca holiday parade instead?
The City’s land parade. The 54th Annual Holiday Street Parade runs Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2026, from 7:30 PM to 9 PM, with decorated floats and community groups and the 2026 theme Boca by the Beach. The City’s parade page says route changes are anticipated this year because of FDOT road work on Federal Hwy, with details coming soon. Temporary barricades go up along the route, spectators must stay behind them, and designated crosswalks are provided. The City has not posted the 2026 route or road closure times, so we do not give them.
Holiday Tree Lighting
Organiser date for 2026A free City celebration with live music, a holiday market, food for purchase and photos with Santa at the Museum of Art. The Mayor lights the City's tree at 7:30 PM along with Mizner Park's light display (the City cites 50,000 LED lights on 75 palms). Plaza Real East and West close to cars from 5 PM. No outside chairs; one unopened water bottle per person.
Saturday, November 21, 2026, 6pm – 10pm, Mizner Park Amphitheater.
Add to calendar: Google Apple / Outlook (.ics)
Source: City of Boca Raton: Holiday Tree Lighting, checked 2026-11-07
54th Annual Holiday Street Parade
Organiser date for 2026Decorated floats and community groups with music and lights; 2026 theme 'Boca by the Beach'. The City says route changes are anticipated this year because of FDOT work on Federal Hwy, with details coming. A 1-mile Boca Holiday Mile Run with the Police Athletic League is planned before the parade (details to come).
Wednesday, December 2, 2026, 7:30PM – 9:00PM. Route still not posted as of 2026-11-07; the City page says 'Parade location route changes are anticipated this year due to ongoing FDOT … road work on Federal Hwy. Details coming soon!' The City calendar (EID 15807) gives no specific location (only 'Boca Raton, FL 33432'). Holiday Mile Run still '(More information coming soon!)'.
Add to calendar: Google Apple / Outlook (.ics)
Source: City of Boca Raton: Holiday Street Parade, checked 2026-11-07
Tuba Christmas
Organiser date for 2026A free outdoor concert of holiday music by a tuba and euphonium ensemble, hosted by the City and conducted by FAU's Marc Decker; bring chairs or blankets.
Also on the Mizner Park Amphitheater page: 'Sunday, December 13, 2026 5:00 – 6:00pm'.
Add to calendar: Google Apple / Outlook (.ics)
Source: City of Boca Raton calendar: Tuba Christmas, checked 2026-11-07
The rest of the downtown season, from the Nov. 21 tree lighting in Mizner Park to Holiday Pops and Merry in Mizner, is in our guide to downtown Boca holiday events in 2026.
Is there a menorah lighting in downtown Boca Raton in 2026?
Not posted yet. Hebcal gives Chanukah 2026 as beginning at sundown on Friday, Dec. 4 and ending at nightfall on Saturday, Dec. 12. On Nov. 8, 2026 we found no organizer page listing a 2026 public menorah lighting in downtown Boca Raton. We will add one here when an organizer posts it.
Boca boat parade questions
When was the Boca Raton boat parade?
It was a City event on the Intracoastal Waterway. The last scheduled one, on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, was canceled for weather, according to the City’s calendar, and the City ended the parade the following year.
Is the Holiday Street Parade the same event?
No. The Holiday Street Parade is the City’s separate land parade with floats, and it continues: Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2026, 7:30 PM to 9 PM.
Which boat parade is closest to downtown Boca?
Boynton Beach to the north and Pompano Beach to the south both run on Friday, Dec. 11. Neither organizer page we read gives a route through Boca Raton, so plan on driving to the watch spot the organizer names.
Written by the Downtown Boca Raton Guide Editorial Team. AI tools help us draft; people check every fact before it publishes.
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Boca Raton (official site)
