Boynton Beach Delray Beach Holiday Boat Parade

Are you ready for the 47th Annual Boynton Beach & Delray Beach Holiday Boat Parade?

On December 14, 2018, starting at 6:30 pm, boats decked out with dazzling lights, holiday décor, and costumed captains will take to the water to compete in our modest, yet wildly popular boat parade. South Floridians are known for having fun on the water, so it’s no surprise that this is an event that many locals look forward to all year. The Special Events line has been ringing off the hook with questions about this year’s event. If you’re an area resident looking to attend the Holiday Boat Parade, here is a list of everything you need to know.

When and Where

The boat parade will take place on Friday, December 14, 2018 at 6:30 pm. The parade will light up the Intracoastal waterways between the Boynton Beach Inlet, which is just north of Gateway Boulevard and the C-15 Canal in Delray Beach, which is just south of Linton Boulevard.

Traffic Delays

Please keep in mind that because many visitors will be traveling to the various viewing locations on the Intracoastal, there will be a significant amount of pedestrian and vehicular traffic throughout Boynton Beach and Delray Beach. Please allow for additional time when travelling through the eastern areas of each city, specifically the Federal Highway corridor and A1A.

Bridge Delays

The boat parade will travel directly underneath several area bridges. To ensure safety the bridges outlined below will be held in the upright position while the boat parade is passing each area. It is very difficult to provide an exact time that the bridges will be unavailable for crossing. The times listed below are merely estimates based on data collected in previous years.

Ocean Avenue – 7:00
Woolbright Road – 7:15
George Bush – 7:30
Atlantic Avenue – 7:45
Linton Boulevard – 8:00

Best Views

There are plenty of great viewing areas available along the parade route, such as waterfront restaurants, parks, and marinas. Our top picks include:

The Boynton Harbor Marina – 735 Casa Loma Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33435

The Boynton Beach CRA will host the city’s official watch party for this year’s boat parade at the marina. This free event runs from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm and will feature festive music, children’s activities, a special visit from Santa, and food and beverages available for purchase from Two Georges Restaurant. Guests are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots. Parking at the marina is limited. Free parking is available in the vacant lot located on the east side of Federal Highway between Boynton Beach Boulevard and Ocean Avenue.

Veterans Park – 802 NE 1st St., Delray Beach, FL 33483

The City of Delray Beach Parks and Recreation Department will host a festive watch party at Veterans Park starting at 5:30 pm. Activities will include live music, dance performances, face painting, games, hot chocolate and other yummy treats. Guests are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots.

Boynton Beach Parks

Intracoastal Park – 2240 N. Federal Hwy.
Jaycee Park – 2600 S. Federal Hwy.
Mangrove Park – 700 NE 4th Ave.

Delray Beach Parks

Knowles Park – 1001 S. Federal Hwy.

Toys for Tots

Once again we are partnering with Marine Industries and Sea Tow to collect new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. This is a wonderful opportunity to help a local child receive a gift during the holiday season. There will be a boat traveling with the parade that will stop at individual docks along the parade route to collect toys. Simply waive a flashlight and the boat will come directly to you for pick up. There will also be Toys for Tots donation boxes at the Boynton Beach CRA office, Boynton Harbor Marina, Banana Boat, Prime Catch, and Two Georges.