Tampa Riverwalk Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
Sat, Dec 196:15 PM · Saturday, December 19, 2026; parade starts 6:15 PM near Sparkman Wharf and finishes at Armature Works.
Tampa Riverwalk along the Hillsborough River (Sparkman Wharf to Armature Works)1910 N Ola Ave, Tampa, FL 33602Directions
All ages
FreeFree to watch from the Riverwalk; VIP ticket information to come
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About this adventure
Tampa's largest lighted boat parade brings decorated vessels, large and small, up the Hillsborough River through downtown on a Saturday evening before Christmas. Boats set off at 6:15 PM near Sparkman Wharf, travel through the Convention Center basin and finish at Armature Works, so families can find a viewing spot anywhere along the Riverwalk between Channelside and Tampa Heights. Local TV personality Charley Belcher is the 2026 grand marshal. Watching from the Riverwalk is open to the public; boat registration and VIP ticket details were still to come when this was checked. Pair it with Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park, which is on the parade route and open the same night with its ice rink and holiday shops. Bring a jacket for the waterfront and plan on crowds and limited downtown parking.
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