Now everyone can plan their vacations early around Winterfest. The 52nd Annual Holiday Parade continues to encourage boaters and spectators to join their celebrations year after year. The website has added details for their 2023 events as well as a separate post listing the Parade dates from 2023 to 2028.
Mark your calendars for DECEMBER 16, 2023 with the Parade starting in the Downtown Area at 6:30 PM with a pre-show of non-motorized vessels at 6:00 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 in true procession 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. A variety of hotel packages with Parade viewing are also listed on the site.
THE PARADES FOR 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028
DECEMBER 16, 2023
DECEMBER 14, 2024
DECEMBER 13, 2025
DECEMBER 12, 2026
DECEMBER 11, 2027
DECEMBER 9, 2028
Parade dates may change without notice – please check this page
Winterfest, Inc., producers of the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, recently secured Fabulous Inflatables and Brandano Displays to design the Santa Showboat for the second year in a row. This Parade entry will host Santa Claus during his quick visit to South Florida and the City of Fort Lauderdale on December 16, 2023. The Santa Showboat, delivered by Amazon, will also host nominees from the Winterfest Foundation Jr. Captain Contest. These children, ages 7-16, represent the services of nonprofit organizations in Broward County. Download our app for a complete list of all 100 entries in Winterfest.
For information on how your Broward County non-profit organization can nominate a child, visit winterfestfoundation.org and scroll down the Jr. Captain section to nominate.
Look for more Parade highlights in this Captain’s Log, including our floating concert entry. winterfestparade.com
“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.”
Fort Lauderdale, FL (September 10, 2019) Winterfest, Inc. and
Disney Theatrical Productions announce the theme of the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Black Tie Ball presented by
Ford in association with Republic National Distributing Company. Your Broadway
wish will be granted during the premier social event of 2019. On Saturday,
December 7th, the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Black Tie Ball will host special
performances from Disney’s Aladdin.
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel
& Casino Hollywood will produce the event with luxurious and exotic
décor. “We are looking forward to
blending the magic of Disney’s Aladdin
with the creative minds of our outstanding production team,” said
Susan Renneisen, vice president of community affairs and special events for
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL. “As the 2019-2021
chairwoman of Winterfest, Inc. and co-chair of the Black Tie Ball, I always
look forward to captivating the beauty, inspiration, and awe of Broadway. The
entertainment and overall experience of this gala is unprecedented because of
Winterfest’s affiliation with Broadway Across America.”
The Seminole
Hard Rock Ballroom will transform into a cave of wonders for South Florida’s
signature holiday gala boasting over 900 attendees. With just one rub of a magic lamp, guests will
journey to the fictional land of Agrabah. Live performances and colorful décor
will transport attendees from the moment they step into The Red “Magic Carpet”
Reception. As the evening progresses, décor will immerse guests into Aladdin’s adventures
as he stumbles upon the magic lamp, wish-granting genie and beautiful Princess
Jasmine.
It doesn’t take three wishes to attend this year’s gala. Tables of 10 range from $3000-$5000 and reservations are now being accepted. This highly desirable event will sell out quickly. Didn’t get the digital invite? Click on the link: http://bit.ly/WinterfestBall2019, visit winterfestparade.com or call 954.767.0686 for more details.
Disney’s Aladdin will play a limited
two-week engagement at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Ft.
Lauderdale from January 8 – 19, 2020.
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. It isa
world-renowned entertainment, gaming and hospitality destination that features
a AAA Four Diamond-rated, 465 room luxury hotel; expansive gaming offerings
including first-in-class slots, high-stakes table games and South
Florida’s premier poker room; spa and fitness center; award-winning dining and
nightlife; and the popular Hard Rock Event Center which hosts celebrity
performances, comedy acts and sporting events. A $1.5 billion expansion slated
to open October, 2019, will bring 638 new, luxury guestrooms to the first-ever,
guitar-shaped Guitar Hotel and 168 upscale guest accommodations, including
unique swim-up suites, in the adjacent Oasis Tower at Seminole Hard Rock
Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Upon completion, the property will have a
combined total of 1,271 rooms. The project will also unveil a lush, “Bora
Bora” style lagoon with private cabanas and butler service; a
42,000 square-foot Rock Spa®; 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 housing 3,100 slots, 193 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 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
About
Aladdin
Aladdin,
the hit musical based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, opened on
Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre to critical acclaim on March 20, 2014 and
quickly established itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters in recent
years, breaking 14 New Amsterdam Theatre house records; worldwide it has
welcomed more than 10 million people and grossed over $1 billion. Its global
footprint includes productions in Tokyo, Hamburg and on tour across North America.
Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, under the direction of Thomas Schumacher, the show features music by Tony Award and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida) and six-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).
Aladdin, adapted from the animated
Disney film and centuries-old folktales including “One Thousand and One
Nights,” is brought to fresh theatrical life in this bold new musical. Aladdin’s journey sweeps audiences into an
exotic world of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance.
This new production features a full score, including the five cherished songs
from the Academy Award-winning soundtrack and more written especially for the
stage.
The animated film Aladdin was released by
Disney in 1992 and was a critical and box office smash, becoming the
highest-grossing film of the year.
The film won the Oscar for Best Original Score and
introduced the hit song “A Whole New World,” which won the second of the film’s
two Academy Awards as Best Original Song. The Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle
recording of the tune soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Aladdin is designed by seven-time Tony-winning scenic
designer Bob Crowley, six-time Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz,
two-time Tony-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes and sound designer Ken
Travis.
The production team also includes illusion designer
Jim Steinmeyer, hair designer Josh Marquette and makeup designer Milagros Medina-Cerdeira.
The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael
Kosarin, who also created the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined
by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly.
Disney Theatrical Productions under the direction of Thomas Schumacher presents Aladdin, the US tour, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book and additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin, starring Jonah Ho’ Okano (Aladdin), Kaena Kekoa (Jasmine), Zach Bencal (Babkak), Colt Prattes (Kassim), Ben Chavez (Omar) and Korie Lee Blossey (Genie) directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw
DONATE TODAY TO BE A PART OF THE 2024 WINTERFEST SILENT AUCTION. Reap the rewards for your item and logo displayed on our digital auction platform from October to December 7. This online auction has a separate marketing campaign on social media with select items that will be highlighted on Winterfest’s social media.
YOUR SUPPORT helps this organization create free events such as the Parade. Scroll to the bottom of this page for more details about Winterfest. You can fill out the form on this website or download this fillable pdf form.
SUGGESTED DONATION:
Event VIP Tickets
Sporting Event Tickets
Attraction Tickets
Gift Cards & Certificates
Purses & Jewelry
Beer, Wine, and Liquor
Exclusive Experiences
Memorabilia
Hotel Stays
Vacation Packages
Spa & Salon Products or Services
Airline Tickets
PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM:
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF WINTERFEST, INC.
Spurred by the continued popularity of the parade, a not-for-profit organization, WINTERFEST, Inc., was formed in 1988 to administer the Boat Parade and to build a festival around it.
Winterfest, Inc. is known for producing wholesome, unique, internationally recognized events that reflect the diversity and culture of South Florida. South Florida’s signature event, the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, has earned the title “The World’s Most Watched Boat Parade.”
Winterfest embraces the dual goals of providing a means for the residents of the Greater Fort Lauderdale area to come together and enjoy spectacular and unique events and attracting positive national and international attention to the area as a tourist destination and a great place to live, work, and play.
Your item and images will be a part of our ONLINE AUCTION powered by QTego, which can be seen on your laptop or smartphone.
Want to advertise your business? Entry fees start at only $250.00
Don’t want to decorate? Consider teaming up with a nonprofit organization to create a “Fresh” entry OR be a “ Totally Tubular” Control Boat on Parade night.
The best and brightest were spotlighted this week at the Southeast Festivals and Events Association’s Kaleidoscope Awards, in Murfreesboro, TN on February 26th. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the 15th Annual SFEA Conference. Top festivals and events throughout the southeast were recognized for their outstanding contribution to the events industry.
“The quality of submissions continues to increase each year making it more difficult for the judges to select the winners,” noted Brenda Pierce, executive director for SFEA. “Of course, to ‘win gold,’ becomes all the sweeter when there is additional competition and the recognition a festival receives for winning is priceless.”
The name “kaleidoscope” was selected due to the colors in the logo image that represent the many different elements and facets within festivals and events. A call for entries was posted last fall and all southeast festivals and events were encouraged to participate. A panel of experts in event planning, marketing and tourism spent an entire day reviewing the entries from eight states. The judges looked for originality, creativity, media impact, volunteer programs, and the overall impact to the community.
Winterfest, Inc. producers of the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade – the World’s Most Watch Boat Parade – headquartered in Broward County, Florida, won in multiple Kaleidoscope Award Categories. The 2017 Winterfest poster painted by local Fort Lauderdale artist, April Renee Kirk, won silver in the promotional poster division. The Parade’s television commercials produced by WSVN, Channel 7, won Bronze and the Winterfest Black Tie Ball digital invitation won Silver produced by Blue Truck Media, Inc.
The Kaleidoscope Awards were sponsored by Classic Tents & Events, Norcross, GA and Pit Stop Portable Restroom Company, Marietta, GA. Classic Tents’ representative Karen Alcock and Pit Stop representatives Brett and Amanda Roques presented the awards to the winners.
Southeast Festivals & Events Association Award Winner Decal
The Incredibly Successful 2024 Family Fun Day is in the history books.
Coming in 2025, this page will be updated with all the exciting details of our next Family Fun Day on Sunday, November 23rd, 2025.
Until then, please enjoy a look back at all of the fun that was the 2024 Winterfest Family Fun Day!
Sunday, November 24th, 2024
FREE EVENT
Winterfest Family Fun Day at Esplanade Park
For an exciting day of family fun in Fort Lauderdale, head on over to Esplanade Park for Winterfest’s Family Fun Day.
Main sponsors include Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and Publix.
This event offers many FREE activities for kids of all ages–and parents, too! This holiday event features giant slides such as Polar Express Slide, Catabella Express Train, and 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.
TITLE SPONSOR: Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
PRESENTING SPONSOR: Publix Super Markets
SPONSOR: SOS Conservation Village, iHeart Radio, Ave Maria, South Florida Ford,
List of Event Highlights and booths:
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Teddy Bear Clinic
FREE Ice Cream sampling by Publix
Fifth Third Nascar
Stoked on Salt Ocean Conservation Village
Experience Catabella Express Train, Polar Express
Entertainment provided by School of Rock
Broward College Snow Mountain
Sampling by Raising Cane’s
Pet Rescue Row and Puppy Kissing Booth
Chevron toy cars giveaway
Free boat rides courtesy of Water Taxi
Give-a-ways and Activities with South Florida Ford, Fiorucci Foods, Ave Maria, Museum of Discovery & Science, Flamingo Gardens, South Florida Ford, Veterinary Emergency Group, Freedom Waters Foundation and SO MUCH MORE!
Additional entertainment by the Hip Hop Kidz, Sout Florida Cloggers and Florida Children’s Theatre.
BONUS: the Museum of Discovery & Science will open for FREE after this event (Free Admission from 3-5 P.M.)
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. Don’t miss the excitement for 2025, contact us today to be a sponsor at 954-767-0686
Become a 2025 Sponsor
Sponsors receive Tickets to Winterfest Events – the Winterfest White Party, Grand Marshal Reception, VIP Area, and Captain’s Cup
10×10 Booth prominently displayed
Logo inclusion 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.
