The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade Publishes Dates for the Next Six Years – 2023 to 2028

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

Santa Showboat delivered by Amazon to Wow Parade Spectators for the Second Year in a Row

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.

Santa Showboat Delivered By Amazon on board Jungle Queen, boat number 100 in the 2022 Winterfest Boat Parade

Look for more Parade highlights in this Captain’s Log, including our floating concert entry. winterfestparade.com

2022 EyeOnSouthFlorida Digital Links

Links to the 2022 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Digital interviews and event highlights captured by EyeOnSouthFlorida. To see current and past videos: https://eyeonchannel.com/?s=winterfest

2022 INTERVIEWS during Winterfest Events:

2022 Winterfest Launch Party
2022 Winterfest Black Tie Ball
2022 Winterfest Grand Marshal Reception
2022 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Parade Viewing at Riverside Hotel
2022 Raw Footage of the Parade Staging Area – Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade

Winterfest 50th Anniversary Shout Out on Boat Boss

Thank you, Kim Sweers, for welcoming me to the helm of Boat Boss. Great platform to promote the 50th-anniversary celebration of Winterfest. Be a part of all the events leading up to the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade on 12.11.21.

Kim Sweers and Lisa Scott-Founds on Boat Boss

Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Boat Parade Announces Bret Michaels as 2019 Grand Marshal

Fort Lauderdale, FL (August 13, 2019) – Parade Organizers announced today legendary multi-platinum superstar, Bret Michaels, as the Grand Marshal of the 48th Annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Boat Parade on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. 

Bret will serve as an ambassador for South Florida’s most acclaimed holiday celebration. 

“Bret is one of the most iconic faces of rock-n-roll and we are excited to have him bring his superstar presence to rock Greater Fort Lauderdale,” said Lisa Scott-Founds, President & CEO of Winterfest, Inc. “The added bonus is having him perform at the new Hard Rock Live the night before the Parade as part of his 2019 worldwide Unbroken Tour.”

Michaels’ relentless work ethic has extended him beyond his front man persona in the band “Poison” and his solo career in music. His Michaels Entertainment Group is a multi-million dollar empire. Along with his multifaceted career, he helps to raise millions of dollars for charities through his Life Rocks Foundation. He has partnered with both the American Diabetes Association and Juvenile Diabetes acting as a spokesperson and sponsor.  

“Seminole Hard Rock is thrilled to have Bret Michaels serve as this year’s Grand Marshal, kicking off the holiday season in style. His iconic stage personality screams Hard Rock and is sure to shake up the waterways”, said Susan Renneisen, vice president of community affairs and special events for Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL. “As the chairwoman of Winterfest, Inc., I am personally excited to bring such an energetic Grand Marshal to rock this 12-mile Parade.”          

Michaels will be a part of a private Winterfest® Grand Marshal Reception on Friday, Dec. 13 prior to his concert at Hard Rock Live at 8 p.m. The public will be able to purchase concert tickets for $70, $50, $40 and $30. All seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at www.myhrl.com and www.ticketmaster.com.  The following night, he will appear in the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Boat Parade on Dec. 14. For more information on the Winterfest Celebration and how you can be a participant, visit WinterfestParade.com or call 954-767-0686.

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Editor’s Note: Bio and Hi-Res images https://www.dropbox.com/sh/p9u0p09cwgw22l8/AAC2ChntD4wXV88SVshjIpARa?dl=0.

Unbroken link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAq2hhRF048

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

Lights Camera Action Movies on Parade Winterfest 2019 – Celebrate the Holidays with Us

Lights, Camera, Action… Movies on Parade is the theme for the 2019 Parade on December 14th. The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade is the “Greatest Show on H2O” with holiday floats that really float. Enjoy your Christmas on the Water or entertain guests on land. Winterfest has tickets for reserved Grandstands seats for only $25-$30 pp. Have a boat? You can enter your vessel for as little as $35 (private entry / no signage). Love to dance? Entertain clients, friends or colleagues with the purchase of a table of 10 at the Black Tie Ball start at only $3,000. Celebrate the holidays with Winterfest in beautiful South Florida and enjoy this holiday tradition which sails from Downtown Fort Lauderdale to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach. Call Winterfest, Inc. for all your Holiday Party needs 954-767-0686 or email us info @ winterfestparade.com

Celebrate the Holidays with Winterfest Host a party at our Black Tie ball, on a boat, on shore. Call our offices for branded holiday party information.

December 15, 2018 – “Best of the 80s” Theme

Go Back In Time with the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade

Parade Date: December 15, 2018 with the theme: “Best of the 80s”

Video Flashback courtesy of Hotwire Communications: https://youtu.be/X7WRofAFbyc


BOATERS: Join The Biggest 80s Party on the Water!

Boater “Dudes / Dudettes”— 

We want to welcome you to the “Rad” Winterfest Family and join the Parade on December 15, 2018 when we “Like Totally” go back in time!

Enter your decorated boat for only $35* (* privately owned / no advertising) on our website: https://winterfestparade.com/parade-application

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.

For more   information, visit: https://winterfestparade.com/events/control-boat-meeting                                      

Questions? Don’t be “wiggin’ out”! Call Winterfest: 954-767-0686

 

Boaters – We Need YOU!

Please consider joining our volunteer force on water if you do not want to enter your boat for only $35. As a control boater, you are the eyes and ears of the Parade. Your participation is vital to keeping the Parade safe and our waterways secure.

Please fill out the control boat form to get the best anchoring spot while defining parade perimeters along our waterways. We need your help during this great community event!

All participants get to attend a Thank you Party.

Mandatory control boat meeting where you will receive a well-stocked goodie bag at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.

Click:  2024 Control Boat Form

#WinterfestFL  Call Today: 954-767-0686 or visit winterfestparade.com