2026 CONTROL 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 2026 parade while being the eyes and ears for “The Most Spectacular 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!
Celebrate with Winterfest! Let us know if you are hosting a Parade Viewing Party on Land! Tell us your location – house, condo, business, restaurant, or dock along the route – we want you to light up our ‘stage” for our waterway Parade!
This page will have decorating, contest and parade voting links information in the Fall. Please visit again in September for updates on the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade on December 16, 2023.
LOOKING TO DECORATE and ENTER OUR SHORELINE CONTEST?
• Be a Part of the Shoreline Extravaganza • Opportunities for a Grand Marshal Shout-out of your Party during the Parade • Sing along with the Karaoke Boat & see your Party on the screens • Vote for your favorite decorated home/business and Parade entry for the chance to win prizes
Looking for Lights? Click here for a light catalog by Christmas Decor Southeast.
The 2026 August Happy Hour has entered the history books!
Coming in 2027, this page will be updated with all the exciting details of our next August Happy Hour. We’ll see you then!
Savor Cinema
August 26
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
503 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Theme Roll Out for the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade.
Get ready to celebrate the end of Summer with Winterfest. On August 26, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, Savor Cinema will host the Winterfest Happy Hour and Roll Out of this year’s Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade theme: “Party in the U.S.A.”
Join us for an evening of camaraderie with parade participants, control boat volunteers, Winterfest board and advisory members, community leaders, and fans as we toast the end of the summer and the countdown to this year’s Winterfest Celebrations. Savor Cinema is one of our series of monthly Happy Hours and various events culminating with the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade. Winterfest has been a beloved tradition in Broward County for over 55 years, captivating audiences with its stunning displays on boats and festive spirit.
Savor Cinema, renowned for its unique ambiance and dedication to the arts, provides the perfect backdrop for this theme. Delight in the company of fellow Winterfest enthusiasts, local leaders, and community members.
WE LOVE OUR WINTERFEST AND BOATING COMMUNITY
Please join your friends at Winterfest for fun, popcorn, raffles, and happy hour prices.
Boaters registered for the Parade (as an entry or control boat) will be automatically entered to win additional prizes.
The 2026 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.
Who will be the 2026 Grand Marshal?
The 55th Annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Boat Parade is set to shine brighter than ever.
The Grand Marshal 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.
Private Party December 11, 2026
COCKTAILS & HORS D’OEURVES | COCKTAIL ATTIRE
INVITATION-ONLY EVENT.
WINTERFEST PARTNERS: RSVP FOR THE NUMBER OF TICKETS BASED ON YOUR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT.
Digital tickets will be emailed from EVENTHUB to the email address supplied.
Your digital ticket will be scanned for entry.
POSTER ARTIST
Charles Fazzino has been commissioned as Winterfest® 2026 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.
Charles Fazzino was selected as The Official Artist for Sail 4th 250 and An Official Artist for America 250. “It is a tremendous honor to be working with both the Sail 4th 250 and America 250 Committees. I love my country with all my heart and to be able to celebrate with all Americans through my artwork is a wonderful experience. Our nation’s 250th anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on who we are and where we have been, and to revel in the values that make this country so great: Unity, Ingenuity, Diversity, and Freedom.”
Special Guests
Celebrity Co-Grand Marshals Honored in Fort Lauderdale
Many local VIPs, community leaders, dignitaries, and Winterfest sponsors will gather in Fort Lauderdale to welcome this year’s celebrity Co-Grand Marshals. As part of the celebration, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and Broward County Mayor will present the Co-Grand Marshals with ceremonial keys to the County and the City of Fort Lauderdale, recognizing their special role in this year’s festivities.
The celebration continues along the scenic Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk, where Riverwalk, Inc. will honor the Co-Grand Marshals with personalized bricks bearing their names as part of the Riverwalk Celebrity Walk of Fame. Located along the banks of the Parade staging area, this special recognition celebrates the celebrities’ contributions and creates a lasting connection between the Co-Grand Marshals, Winterfest, and the Fort Lauderdale community.
Aileen Cerchiara, the reigning Miss Florida USA 2026 and First Runner Up Miss USA 2026, is a 26-year-old Tampa native who proudly embraces her multicultural heritage as the daughter of an Argentinian father and a Colombian mother. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she believes her greatest purpose is using her voice to serve others.
Join Us
Winterfest® is more than a Parade—it’s a tradition that unites South Florida and draws national recognition. 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: Charles Fazzino’s artwork ensures that Winterfest® 2026 resonates across art 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.
ALL PARTICIPATING STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS and PRINCIPALS are invited. JOIN US for the 2025-2026 STUDENT ART EXHIBIT and AWARDS CEREMONY presented by Broadway director Neil Goldberg, author of the new award-winning children’s holiday book POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance. AWARDS FOR FIRST, SECOND and THIRD PLACE AND HONORABLE MENTIONS.
Please join your friends at Winterfest for fun, hors d’oeuvres, raffles, and happy hour prices. Boaters registered for the Parade (as an entry or control boat) will be automatically entered to win additional prizes.
Bret Michaels – 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade
The 2019 Grand Marshal Experience will be hosted at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
This Winterfest Celebration welcoming our Grand Marshal Bret Michaels includes dignitaries and celebrities who join us at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to celebrate, Winterfest style. RECEPTION BY INVITATION ONLY.
Captain Lee, Miss Florida USA, Miss Teen USA, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, and Miss Latina Internationals.
This fabulous reception is the prelude to the parade. Many local VIP’s, dignitaries, sponsors will be on hand to welcome this year’s celebrity Grand Marshal. Fort Lauderdale’s Mayor, Dean Trantalis, will give the Grand Marshal a key to our beautiful city and Riverwalk, Inc. will present a brick in his/her name(s) for the Riverwalk Celebrity Walk of Fame on the banks of the staging area of the Parade.
Please view photos of our past parade Grand Marshals 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.
This is a private reception to honor our Grand Marshal. Become a Sponsor – Get Invited!
For an exciting day of family fun in Fort Lauderdale, head on over to Esplanade Park for Winterfest’s Family Fun Day.
This holiday event offers many FREE activities for kids of all ages – and parents, too! Featuring the Highland Cows Petting Zoo, Cookie Decorating by Publix, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Teddy Bear Clinic, Stoked on Salt Ocean Conservation Village Catabella Express Train, and many other activities.
Our Family Fun Day is in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale in front of the Museum of Discovery and Science and it is packed with exciting family activities.
If you work up an appetite, there will be plenty of food and beverage options for sale. Samples and so much more.
With great food, fun activities, and live music, this is an event you don’t want to miss out on. It’s a perfect day on the New River / Riverwalk for the entire family.
TITLE SPONSOR: Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
In Association With
PRESENTING SPONSOR: Publix Super Markets
List of Event Highlights and booths:
Photos with Santa
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Teddy Bear Clinic
Cookie decorating by Publix
Catabella Express Train & Inflatables
Live Entertainment provided by School of Rock
Broward College Snow Mountain
Pet Rescue Row
SOS Ocean Conservation Village
School of Rock on the WM Stage
Free boat rides courtesy of Water Taxi
City of Fort Lauderdale Kids Zone
NEW Highland Cows Petting Zoo
BONUS: the Museum of Discovery & Science will open for FREE after this event (Free Admission from 3-5 P.M.)
School of Rock
Don’t miss the excitement for 2026, contact us today to be a sponsor at 954-767-0686
Become a 2026 Sponsor
Sponsors receive Tickets to Winterfest Events – the Winterfest Launch Party, Grand Marshal Reception, VIP Area, and Captain’s Cup
10×10 Booth prominently displayed
Logo incorporated in a variety of Winterfest Promotions including Family Fun Day Flyer and Social Media
Other media opportunities
Sponsorship Opportunities
All sponsorships are created to provide the maximum entertainment/branding opportunities within the Winterfest Celebration.
Click on the sponsorship level of interest and a Winterfest representative will contact you to have a custom sponsorship created for your company.
PRESS CREDENTIALS: All media requests must be submitted using an email address from the media’s active domain address. The submission must include a commitment from an editor/publisher noting where and when the story/photos will be printed/uploaded on social media platforms.
Any social media influencers must submit their handles, viewership and pre-/event day promotions plan when requesting credentials.
