Enjoy Fun Festive and Free Holiday Boat Parades on the Beaches
December 16th, 2011 Categories: Clearwater Beach Florida
Last Saturday several of the beach towns and communities had their boat parades. We enjoyed attending the Clearwater Beach Holiday boat parade under a wonderful full moon over Clearwater Harbor. Holiday Boat parades are just one of the many ways we celebrate here in our Pinellas County beach towns. If you haven’t seen one you owe it to yourself to make some time to do so – it’s fun, festive and free, it doesn’t get much better than that. Not sure what to expect at a boat parade? Check out this video from Clearwater Beach’s Boat parade last weekend: You still have one more chance to enjoy a Holiday Boat parade this year. If you’ll be in the area this Saturday December 17, 2011 check out the 25th Annual City of Indian Rocks Holiday Lighted Boat Parade or the 45th Annual Madeira Beach Festival of Lights Boat Parade. Here are more details about both: 25th Annual City of Indian Rocks Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
- Start time: 7:00pm
- Cost: Free
The boat parade will starts at the Harbourside Holiday Inn in Indian Rocks Beach at 7:00pm. Jimmy Guana’s is a great place to watch the parade and make an evening of it, however, if that’s your plan you better get there early – it’s always packed that night. Jimmy Guana’s is located at 401 2nd St Indian Rocks Beach. there are 3 categories in the parade based on boat size. 23 ft and under, 24 to 30ft vessels and over 30ft. I’m always amazed at the creativity and beauty of each one. The boat parade will start at the Harbourside Inn and run north under the Walsingham Bridge and up the intercoastal waterways of Indian Rocks Beach and end at the city limits near North Harbor Drive before Belleair Beach. 45th Annual Madeira Beach Festival of Lights Boat Parade
- Start time: 6:30pm
- Cost: Free
The Madeira Beach parade starts just north of the Tom Stuart Causeway. The Madeira Beach Boat Parade Route is quite extensive and lasts about 1.5 hours and ends around 8pm at John’s Pass. They award prizes as well and the categories are for boats under 25ft, over 25 ft and then another Old Salt award. One final tip: If you are planning to watch the parades try to get to where ever you’re going to watch it from at least a half hour early so you don’t miss them since it can be crowded. I’m curious have you ever seen a boat parade? Tell me below – and if not I hope you get to see one soon!
About Jack Haydon
Jack Haydon, Realtor with Future Home Realty specializing in luxury waterfront and beach homes of Clearwater Beach - St Pete - Tampa Bay area with his wife and partner, Cyndee Haydon Jack's Google Profile
