Fort Pierce - Saturday October 21, 2023: The 2023 St. Lucie County Christmas Boat Parade will be held on Saturday, December 9th beginning at 6:00 pm. All Treasure Coast and visiting boaters are welcome to ‘light ‘em up’ for this greatly anticipated annual holiday tradition.
The St. Lucie County Christmas Boat Parade is presented by the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast, Inc. (MIATC) and co-hosted by the Fort Pierce Yacht Club (FPYC) and Paella King. MIATC’s Executive Director Justin Beard is excited to spearhead this year’s event. “We are looking forward to continuing this iconic St. Lucie event and bringing you another year of incredibly decked out vessels,” Beard noted. FPYC Commodore Forest Blanton agreed, “looking forward to a spectacular event.”
This year the St. Lucie County Christmas Boat Parade is collaborating with LeGit’s Downtown Toy Drive. Parade participants are asked to bring an unwrapped toy to the captain’s meeting on Thursday, December 7th. All others who would like to contribute can drop off an unwrapped toy between today and Friday, December 8th to either Freedom Boat Club (Fort Pierce City Marina, 1 Avenue A, G Dock, Fort Pierce) or FPYC (Fridays between 7-9 p.m., 700 N Indian River Dr, Fort Pierce).
Registration is open and is once again free for all participants and spectators as this is a great family friendly event for all. Boaters looking for registration information should go to www.miatc.com/christmas-boat-parades and check the (newly created) ‘St. Lucie County Christmas Boat Parade’ Facebook page for all updates.
Boats are divided into three categories (Small, Medium, and Large), with winners in each category receiving prizes based on scores determined by a panel of judges. The judges are well-qualified individuals. All are briefed and understand the challenge of decorating a vessel, and each brings an appreciation for design, imagination, and implementation of your ideas.
This year we will be following a new parade route.
It is as follows: Boats will meet at the red Indian River Daybeacon 188 off FP City Marina; head north under the South Bridge; travel East down the channel toward Jetty Park; turn 180 degrees in front of the Square Grouper Tiki Bar; travel Westward back down the Inlet; the parade ends when the last boat reaches the Turning Basin (north of the Fort Pierce South Causeway Bridge). A new route map will be distributed closer to the parade date. Boats are expected to form a line behind a lead patrol boat and operate at no wake speed throughout the duration of the event. Boats must also complete the parade route to be eligible for a prize. (Note: On the day of the parade, the route may change due to weather conditions. The safety of our participants is our priority.)
The best viewing sites for the St. Lucie County Christmas Boat Parade are at the public beaches and public walkways along Seaway Drive and the restaurants facing the Inlet along Seaway Drive. The parade will begin in front of the Fort Pierce Yacht Club and the FP City Marina in the ICW channel but will be further from shore at this location.
Important dates:
Captain’s Meeting:
When: Thursday, December 7, 2023, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Where: Fort Pierce Yacht Club, 700 N Indian River Drive Fort Pierce
Parade:
When: Saturday, December 9, 2023, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Staging begins at 5:30 p.m. at the red daybeacon 188 off FP City Marina
** Please note new starting location and new route. **
Thanks to our sponsors:
Causeway Cove Marina
Derecktor, Ft. Pierce
Fin & Foil
Florida Inland Navigation District
Fort Pierce City Marina
Fort Pierce Yacht Club
Freedom Boat Club
Paella King
Sailfish Brewery
SeaTow
St. Lucie County
TowBoat U.S.
Visit St Lucie Florida
(see FB page for current list of sponsors)
MIATC is offering sponsorship packages for the St. Lucie County Christmas Boat Parade with the proceeds going toward their workforce readiness initiatives. All sponsorship information can be found on www.miatc.com/christmas-boat-parades. Both MIATC and FPYC are both committed to supporting workforce readiness within the marine industry.
For more information and updates, go to the newly created ‘St. Lucie County Christmas Boat Parade’ Facebook page or www.miatc.com/christmas-boat-parades.
