The 54th Annual Holiday Parade takes place DECEMBER 13, 2025 starting in the Downtown Area at the new time of 6:00 PM with a pre-show of non-motorized vessels at 5:30 p.m. The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade will stage on the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale, along the docks west of Stranahan House to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
The Parade starts at Stranahan House, traveling East along the New River in Fort Lauderdale to the Intracoastal Waterway and continues North to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach. It’s 12 Miles of the “Best Show on H20.” The Parade takes approximately 2 and 1/2 hours to view from one location (starting locations stagger as you travel north).
Private boats, giant showboats and corporate megayachts will be adorned with hundreds of thousands of lights, music, entertainment, decorations, celebrities, musical groups, beauty queens, and many other exciting entries expected to be viewed by over one million spectators.
The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade Grand Marshals for 2025 Romero Britto and Montell Jordan
Celebrities in the 2025 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade
Lou Schieffelin – Miss Florida USA
Keira Morehead – Miss Florida Teen USA 2025
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE PARADE
DECEMBER 13, 2025
DECEMBER 12, 2026
DECEMBER 11, 2027
DECEMBER 9, 2028
DECEMBER 15, 2029
Parade dates may change without notice – please check this page
The 2024 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade has entered the history books!
Coming in 2025, this page will be updated with all the exciting details of the 54th Annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade. We’ll see you then!
2025CONTROL BOATERS, PARADE SPOTTERS, and HAM OPERATORS ONLY at the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. Contact Winterfest on how to get involved and click here to download a .pdf of the Control Boat Application.
CONTROL BOATERS: Get a FRONT ROW seat to the 2025 parade while being the eyes and ears for the “Best Show on H2O!”. All control boaters receive a goodie bag at the Control Boat Meeting with light and signs. AFTER THE PARADE, volunteers are invited to the Winterfest Volunteer Party! Join Today!
SANTA will read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” while on vacation in the Broward County Area in Florida on December 19, 2024 at 7 pm. He spent a few days in Fort Lauderdale after starring in the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade and before the big night. The reading will be available until December 24, 2024.
EyeOnSouthFlorida will capture all the magic and Winterfest will ask Santa a few questions after the reading.
THANK YOU SANTA for reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas” while on vacation in the Broward County Area in Florida on December 19, 2024, before the big night. EyeOnSouthFlorida was able to capture all the magic and Winterfest was able to ask Santa a few of our fans’ questions after the reading.
Santa Reading Twas the Night Before Christmas at Stranahan House
The reading will be active during the holiday season by EyeOnSouthFlorida
2022 Santa Answers a few questions for Winterfest, such as which is his favorite cookie
REGISTER NOW TO RECEIVE THIS FESTIVAL HOLIDAY BOOK
Form 17
This book will be mailed to the FIRST 100 registered:
HOLIDAYS ALL YEARwith POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance
POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance wrap up Christmas and prepare for more holidays around the world: Lunar New Year, Ramadan, Diwali, Passover, Easter, St. Pat’s, Mardi Gras, Halloween and more. New sprite FESTINA shares wisdom, knowledge, and powers, as they set out to brighten holidays all year celebrating time-honored traditions and adventures.
The perfect young reader, family, and coffee table book
Delivery of this book is NOT guaranteed to arrive prior to 12.25.24
The 2025 Grand Marshal Experience will be hosted at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. This Winterfest Celebration welcoming our Grand Marshals includes dignitaries and celebrities who join us at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to celebrate, Winterfest style.
RECEPTION BY INVITATION ONLY.
CO-GRAND MARSHALS
2025 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade Co-Grand Marshals Romero Britto and Montell Jordan
Co-Grand Marshal for 2025 – Romero Britto
Co-Grand Marshal for 2025 – Montell Jordan
The 54th Annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Boat Parade is set to shine brighter than ever, led by two global icons:
Montell Jordan – R&B legend, inspirational performer, and community advocate. Known for the anthem “This Is How We Do It,” Jordan brings not only a legendary career but also a passion for community, outreach, and connection.
Romero Britto – internationally acclaimed artist whose bold, joyful style has captivated the world. His vibrant, signature artwork will define the look and feel of Winterfest® 2025. From brochures and shirts to the showboat décor, Britto’s art will be everywhere turning the Parade into a living masterpiece.
Together, these Co-Grand Marshals embody the perfect fusion of sound, color, and celebration, making Winterfest® 2025 an unforgettable experience of music, art, and holiday magic.
The Grand Marshals will be honored at the exclusive Grand Marshal Reception, followed by leading the Parade the next night onboard the Grand Marshal Showboat presented by Fifth Third Bank.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE by Montell Jordan
POSTER ARTIST
In addition to his role as Grand Marshal, Romero Britto has also been commissioned as Winterfest® 2025 poster artist, further adding to the color, creativity, and cultural impact of this year’s festivities. His artwork will be featured on brochures, newsletter, online materials, shirts and reflected on the decor of the Grand Marshal Showboat sponsored by Fifth Third Bank.
Attendees will receive this year’s Poster created by Romero Britto courtesy of South Florida Business Journal.
Entertainment by Yacht Rockettes Trio sponsored by Rick & Flo Celender
Photo Booth sponsored by
Special Guests
Many local VIPs, dignitaries, and sponsors will be on hand to welcome this year’s celebrity Co-Grand Marshals. Fort Lauderdale’s Mayor, Dean Trantalis, will give the Co-Grand Marshals a key to our beautiful city and Riverwalk, Inc. will present a brick in their name(s) for the Riverwalk Celebrity Walk of Fame on the banks of the staging area of the Parade.
2025 Grand Marshal Reception Celebrities – Ryan Cabrera, Chris Kirkpatrick, Jr. Captain Sydney, Captain Lee, the Yacht Rockettes, Skip Ahoy
Meet Florida’s Powerhouse: Your New Miss Florida USA!
Crowned with purpose and passion, Lou Schieffelin is your newly crowned Miss Florida USA and she’s ready to make history. No stranger to the spotlight, Lou first dazzled the pageant world as Miss Florida Teen USA 2018, placing in the Top 10 at Miss Teen USA and has only soared higher ever since.
A proud magna cum laude graduate of the University of Florida, she blends beauty, brains, and bold ambition. With over 16 years as a professional model in the best markets around the US, she knows how to command a runway and through pageantry, a room. Now, Lou is taking her drive to the skies as a pilot in training, proving that no dream is too high to chase.
However, Schieffelin’s greatest mission is grounded in purpose. As a passionate advocate, she was a FL House Floor honored catalyst behind the life-saving legislation that ended the texting while driving epidemic saving an estimated 11 lives every single day in Florida. In partnership with AT&T’s national “It Can Wait” campaign, Lou also authored a children’s book to further amplify her message and reach.
Determined to protect Florida’s youth, Lou has gone on to curate her empowering workshop “Red Flags Run.”, a program educating teens on how to stay safe in the digital world.
From the stage to the skies, the Capitol to the classroom, she’s a woman on a mission. And now, she’s setting her sights on the national crown. Lou is ready to bring home Florida’s first-ever Miss USA title. Grace, grit, and an unstoppable spirit: Miss Florida USA is more than a title. She’s a movement.
Join Us
Winterfest® is more than a Parade—it’s a tradition that unites South Florida and draws national recognition. With Montell Jordan and Romero Britto at the helm, this year promises to be a spectacular celebration of creativity, culture, and community.
Please view photos of our past Grand Marshals Jack Wagner with the Florida Panthers’ Mascots: Stanley C. Panther and Viktor E. Rat,Taylor Dayne, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, Mario Lopez, Brett Michaels, Huey Lewis, Big & Rich, PITBULL, Flo Rida, Deborah Norville, Barry Gibb, Brooke Burke, Kim Kardashian, Alonzo Mourning, Jim Belushi, Lorraine Bracco, Frankie Valli, Randy Jackson, Shaquille O’Neal, Ryan Hunter-Reay, and many more on our Facebook page.
Now is the perfect time to partner with Winterfest® and showcase your brand on the most dazzling stage of the season.
A Powerful Platform for Partners
By partnering with Winterfest®, you align your brand with world-class talent, international media attention, and unmatched community engagement.
High-Profile Visibility: Featured alongside iconic names such as Pitbull, Flo Rida, Shaquille O’Neal, and Barry Gibb—past Grand Marshals who have elevated the Parade’s reputation.
Cultural Impact: Britto’s artwork and Jordan’s influence ensure that Winterfest® 2025 resonates across art, music, and media landscapes.
Prestige & Access: From the exclusive Grand Marshal Reception to the Parade itself, your brand will connect with VIPs, dignitaries, celebrities, and tens of thousands of attendees.
This is a private reception to honor our Grand Marshal. Become a Sponsor – Get Invited! SPONSORSHIPS are available with this event. The event includes honoring our Jr. Captain from the Winterfest Foundation.
The Organizers of Winterfest, Producers of the Signature Event, The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, brings “Home for the Holidays” with Decorating Contests, Virtual Events, Pop Up Santa Sightings, Holiday Cheer Light Cruises, and More as a countdown to the Annual Holiday Television Special
It was a very difficult decision to pause the “World’s Most Watch Boat Parade” for 2020, but that did not stop the organizers of Winterfest from reinventing this year’s holiday season. The team may not be able to produce the famous Parade in December; however, they are committed to bringing community cheer with the theme, “Home for the Holidays.”
“This has been a very emotional time for all of us,” noted Lisa Scott-Founds, President and CEO of Winterfest, Inc. “The Parade is synonymous with the holidays. We had to weigh the safety of everyone onshore as well as the water. The event would create “gatherings” in public and private areas with little or no control regarding social distancing, and mask-wearing. What would those optics look like and how would that be perceived? It was decided by the Winterfest Board of Directors, as well as a few of our major sponsors, that the safety of the community was the main priority. As the area businesses open up, there is a tear that we are not the finale celebration for this difficult year. We may not have live events, but our calendar is full of holiday events and activities for everyone to enjoy.” Winterfest is asking the community to help spread the warm and positive feelings of the holidays by decorating and submitting a photo. Simply visit the https://winterfestparade.com/winterfest-decorating-contestto upload your images OR upload them on social media using the hashtag: #winterfestdecor on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. We want everyone to show their lights! When you enter on social media, include your social media handle, a brief description, and a shout-out where your amazing decorations are located (business name, for residents – your city, state … No exact location unless you want people to drive by and gawk!) If you decorated it – we want to see it (boats, homes, businesses, interior/exterior parts of your home … holiday tree, room, dock, balcony, porch, etc.)! Lots of great prizes will be given out including a $500 Bloomers Frosé Basket to the photo with the most votes in select categories. A few over the top entries will receive the “Griswold Award” which will be selected by the president of the Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors®, Jarrod K. Lowe. We even have a contest for the cutest holiday pets! Voters, we didn’t forget about you – Vote starting November 28th and you’ll be entered for a chance to win round trip travel on Southwest Airlines®.
Are you out and about? Enjoy the Holidays with Winterfest aboard Holiday Lights Cruises on a special decorated Water Taxi or download the Winterfest App to see where Santa will be from November 27th to December 24th as he vacations in Fort Lauderdale. Want to getaway? Check out Winterfest’s Social Media and Crown Wine & Spirits locations and enter to win a two-night stay at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, dinner for (2) two, Southwest Airlines tickets and more. Click on https://winterfestparade.com/contests for all the details on how to enter!
Looking to snuggle more on your comfy couch? Winterfest makes Holiday Shopping, baking, DIY ornament crafting easy with a click to our website. Your family can even enjoy Santa in your home virtually. This year, Storytime with Santa is a Winterfest virtual experience with the first 100 children that are registered receiving a copy of the book Santa will be reading so kids may read along.. The sight will have the link to see Santa read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas on December 5th. A list of all the holiday excitement is on the Winterfestparade.com site under “2020 holidays.”
And what would Winterfest be without the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade? On December 19th, 25th and 31st, turn on WSVN Channel 7 to watch a trip down memory lane with a retrospective of 49 years of this holiday tradition. For your holiday needs and wishes, go to Winterfestparade.com
For more information on Winterfest, Inc., call 954-767-0686.
“As published in the International Festivals & Events Association’s “i.e.: the business of international events” quarterly magazine. The premiere association supporting and enabling festivals and events worldwide. For more information on the IFEA, go to www.ifea.com.”
Winterfest is looking online for fun and creative festive fun for the whole family! From recipes to decorations, Winterfest is working on a few easy links to make this year “together” memorable. Keep visiting this page as we expand on how to get creative this holiday season.
HOMEMADE ORNAMENTS: Want to create a memory for your tree? Meet Winterfest’s Workshop Wizard – 8-year-old James T. (J.T.) Floyd – the star of our “How To Ornament Videos. ” He will show us how to make Boat (2 different kinds), Gnome, Snowflake, Wreath, and Star Ornaments.
Visit a Dollar Store, Hobby Lobby, or other location to pick up the following items and print out or re-create the easy templates on this page.
DIY Star Ornament in the Winterfest Workshop – Thank you to The Media Lab
DIY Wreath Ornament in the Winterfest Workshop – Thank you to The Media Lab
DIY Gnome Ornament in the Winterfest Workshop – Thank you to The Media Lab
DIY Boat Ornament in the Winterfest Workshop – Thank you to The Media Lab
OTHER CRAFT IDEAS (cookie links at the end of this post) :
Fort Lauderdale, Florida – August 18, 2020 – The 2020 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade slated for Saturday, Dec. 12, has been canceled due to ongoing coronavirus concerns and the organization’s unwavering commitment to the health and safety of participants and spectators.
Announcement of the cancellation followed a unanimous vote of the Winterfest Board of Directors to forego the 2020 boat parade. Related Winterfest live events will also be canceled this year.
Organizers of the annual holiday celebration, one of the nation’s most popular community events, are instead focusing on the 50th Anniversary Year Boat Parade event in December of 2021. The first Winterfest Boat Parade took place in December 1971.
“Our team, partners and community supporters were very hopeful for the traditional holiday boat parade to continue in December,” said Lisa Scott-Founds, President and CEO of Winterfest, Inc. “This was a very difficult decision, but we are being proactive and socially responsible for the health and safety of our community. That is our top priority.”
Television Special Still Planned for this December
In addition to the 50th Anniversary events in 2021, organizers will concentrate this year on the annual television special focusing on the Best of the Parade with a “Home for the Holidays” theme. The 2020 television special produced by WSVN Channel 7 will blend the retrospect and a combination of special surprises as organizers move their attention to the 50th anniversary December 2021
The television special scheduled to air in December will bring the best of the best of decorated boats into the comfort of viewers’ homes. The special will air again on Christmas and New Year’s Day along with additional airings on Fox Sports Sun. The “Home for the Holidays,” message will envelop a three-month campaign of virtual events leading up to the television show, including passive decorating entries of homes, businesses, boats, and docks. “We are bringing a hometown feel of family, friends, and parade partners to this year’s special,” said Lisa Scott-Founds. “Winterfest 2020 is a reflection of our community’s heart and hope.”
Winterfest is developing new simulated experiences with a touch of tradition such as picking this year’s Jr. Captain with the Winterfest Foundation, a Coloring Competition, Cookies with Santa, Video Greetings, Flashbacks of Fan Favorite Entries, and Celebrity Grand marshals along with a few local sightings of the Parade’s beloved mascot “Skippy” and Santa’s Elves. Winterfest’s annual online auction promises to be one of the largest holiday shopping experiences with over 250 items from jewelry, travel, dinners, and more.
For more information as Winterfest builds with partner opportunities focusing on this year’s television special and the 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2021, contact the office at 954-767-0686 or info@winterfestparade.com.
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About Winterfest, Inc.
Winterfest is a Florida not-for-profit organization based in Broward County that produces a variety of events including the free public event known as the Winterfest Boat Parade – “The World’s Most Watched Boat Parade.” On a typical year, spectators view the Parade along the 12-mile route with millions more via television and the internet bringing National and International recognition to South Florida. Winterfest also hosts annual events to enhance the community’s image and provide unique, wholesome family entertainment. For more information on Winterfest, please contact the office at (954) 767-0686 or website: www.winterfestparade.com.
Susan Renneisen, 2019-2021 Chairman of the Winterfest® Board,
welcomes new Board Members via Zoom Meeting
VIA ZOOM, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – May 18, 2020 – Winterfest®, Inc. recently hosted the installation of their new 2020-2021 board members via a Zoom Meeting. The installation and welcome of the board and advisory members was followed by an announcement from Winterfest® Chair, Susan Renneisen, Vice President of Community Affairs and Special Events at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and Chairman-Elect Mark Swenson, Senior Vice President-Wealth Management at UBS Financial Services, Inc. – The Garvin Financial Team, naming parade participant and board member Britt Lanier, Franchise Owner, Two Men and a Truck, as 2021 Boat Parade Chair.
“I am pleased to announce our 2020-2021 board members, who collectively represent the top leaders and talent from within our business community. This year presents a unique opportunity for us and through the collaborative efforts of our board and business partners we will produce a parade that will lift spirits and bring an element of joy to our South Florida families and beyond,” said Susan Renneisen, Vice President of Community Affairs and Special Events, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and Winterfest® Chair.
“The 2020-2021 Winterfest® Board has a fresh new direction,” said Lisa Scott-Founds, Winterfest® President & CEO. “It is exciting to develop a celebration at the end of the year that our community will be looking forward to seeing in a variety of ways. We are always striving to bring the best and safest event to this area.”
The Winterfest® board of directors is composed of 50 community leaders who are ambassadors for this signature South Florida event.
New Board Members:
Amanda Cifu Burke – Florida Panthers
John Dunnuck – Broward College
James Harrison – Frank and Jimmie’s Propeller
Michael Johnson – Clearpath Alerts
Kristene Lundblad-Tokesky – Lank Oil Company
Steve Nudelberg – On the Ball
Gary Press – Lifestyle Magazine
Stacy Ritter – Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau
For more information, photos of new board/advisory members and a complete list of Winterfest® Board and Advisory Members, visit winterfestparade.com or call 954-767-0686.
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About Winterfest, Inc. Winterfest is a Florida not-for-profit organization based in Broward County that produces a variety of events including the free public event known as the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade – “The World’s Most Watched Boat Parade.” Approximately one million spectators view the Parade on the 12-mile route along with millions more via television and the internet bringing National and International recognition to South Florida. Winterfest also hosts annual events to enhance the community’s image and provide unique, wholesome family entertainment. For more information on Winterfest, please contact the office at (954) 767-0686 or their website: www.winterfestparade.com.
About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is the flagship casino resort of Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. This world-renowned entertainment, gaming and hospitality destination unveiled a $1.5 billion expansion on Oct. 24, 2019. New offerings include 638 upscale guestrooms in the first-ever Guitar Hotel, 168 luxury guestrooms and unique swim-up suites in the adjacent Oasis Tower at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, and 465 newly redesigned guestrooms in Hard Rock Hotel for a combined room count of 1,271 throughout the resort. Additional amenities include the lush, “Bora Bora” style lagoon with private cabanas and butler service; a 42,000 square-foot Rock Spa® & Salon; a 13.5-acre recreational water experience for swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding; 19 dining outlets and 20 bars and lounges; an expansive gaming floor with 3,100 slots, 195 table games and a 45-table poker room; 120,000 square feet of premier meeting and convention space including a 38,000 square-foot, carpeted exhibition hall; and The Shoppes at The Guitar Hotel, a 26,000 square-foot retail promenade. The highly anticipated Hard Rock Live entertainment venue with a 7,000-person capacity, will showcase A-list entertainers, comedy acts, Broadway performances, sporting events and live broadcast productions. The integrated resort is located on 87 acres of the Hollywood SeminoleReservation along State Road 7 (U.S. Highway 441), and is 10 minutes from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Miami and Miami International Airport. For more information, visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com, call 800-937-0010 or follow us: Facebook: SeminoleHardRockHollywood, Twitter: @HardRockHolly, Instagram: @HardRockHolly
