The District's Holiday Boat Parade at The Wharf

About this adventure

The District's Holiday Boat Parade is Washington D.C.'s premier waterfront holiday festival, celebrating its 34th annual voyage along the Washington Channel. Over 60 brightly decorated private motorboats, vintage schooners, and sailing yachts cruise along the shoreline competing for holiday prizes, festooned with thousands of multicolor twinkle lights, animated Santas, dancing snowmen, and inflatable holiday characters. Festivities culminate in a breathtaking fireworks salute exploding over the water at 8:00 PM. Throughout the afternoon and evening, The Wharf's piers burst with free family entertainment. Children can decorate wooden holiday ornaments, meet Santa Claus for photos, enjoy holiday karaoke, and roast complimentary s'mores over the wood-burning fire pits at Camp Wharf. The entire pedestrian promenade is flat, spacious, and completely stroller-accessible. Arriving via Metrorail to Waterfront Station (Green Line) or riding the free Wharf Shuttle from L'Enfant Plaza is highly advised, as waterfront parking garages fill to capacity early.