Grab a chair and a new toy for the drive, because the 32nd annual Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade lights up the Intracoastal on Saturday, December 5, 2026. Dozens of decorated boats leave North Palm Beach at 6 p.m., cruise north behind a fireworks barge and wrap up with a fireworks show at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse around 8 p.m. The Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County runs the parade rain or shine, and every year it doubles as a toy drive for Toys for Tots and Little Smiles.
It's one of our favorite nights of the year in north county. Because the boats travel about two hours from start to finish, the spot you pick decides when the show reaches you. Here are 10 places along the route, from the finale at the Jupiter Inlet down to the early stretch in Palm Beach Gardens.
The organizer posts approximate times for each bridge. Tides and wind can move them a bit, so get there early and settle in.
This is where the parade ends, so Lighthouse Park gets the closest look at the fireworks finale and the biggest crowd of the night. The park sits right on the Intracoastal beside the lighthouse. Plan to be there well before 7 p.m. if you want a spot by the water.
Jetty's, at 1075 North A1A, looks straight out at the inlet and the lighthouse, so you're steps from the finale with dinner in front of you. Parade-night tables go fast. Call ahead.
U-Tiki Beach sits at the Jupiter Inlet Marina at 1095 North A1A, near the end of the route, with a laid-back island feel that fits the night. Book a table early.
The Love Street waterfront by the inlet is home to Charlie & Joe's, The Beacon and Lucky Shuck, and it made the organizer's official viewing list in 2025. It's a lively crowd, and parking is tight, so carpool if you can.
Square Grouper at 1111 Love Street is a Jupiter classic on the water near the inlet, and it was on the 2025 viewing list too. Seating is first come, first served, so show up early and grab a drink while you wait.
Harbourside Place, at 200 North US Highway 1, sits on the Intracoastal between the Indiantown Road and Jupiter Federal bridges. With restaurants, a waterfront boardwalk and garage parking, it's an easy pick for groups and families.
The Jupiter Riverwalk follows the Intracoastal and the Loxahatchee River near the Indiantown Road bridge. Its paths and pedestrian bridges give you plenty of free places to spread out a blanket. The Town of Jupiter posts a Riverwalk map on its website.
Sawfish Bay Park is a small Town of Jupiter park on the Intracoastal with a free lot and restrooms, a nice low-key option if you'd rather skip the busiest spots.
Juno Park and Bert Winters Park were both on the organizer's 2025 list. They see the boats earlier in the evening, around the time the parade passes the Donald Ross Road bridge at about 7 p.m., which makes them a great call if you have little ones with an early bedtime.
Waterway Cafe, at 2300 PGA Boulevard, gets one of the first looks at the parade, with boats passing the PGA bridge around 6:15 p.m. Coming by boat? The restaurant has more than 150 feet of first-come dock space.
When is the 2026 Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade?
Saturday, December 5, 2026. It starts at 6 p.m. in North Palm Beach and ends with fireworks at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse around 8 p.m.
Where does the boat parade end?
At the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, where a fireworks finale closes the night.
Is the boat parade canceled for rain?
No. The organizer holds the parade rain or shine.
Who organizes the parade?
The Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County. The parade collects toys for Toys for Tots and Little Smiles.
Every December, homeowners along the Intracoastal watch the whole show from their own docks, and plenty of them host the neighborhood for it. Waterfront communities on the route include Admirals Cove and Jonathan's Landing in Jupiter, with Jupiter Inlet Colony right across the inlet from the finale. If a dock is on your wish list, our guide for boaters buying in Jupiter covers what to check, and our snowbird season guide has the rest of the winter calendar.
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