Christmas Boat Parade
The Christmas Boat Parade in Venice, Florida is held the first Saturday in December and starts at 6:00 p.m.. The rain date is the next day.
Vessels small and large decorate with Christmas lights and holiday decorations to thrill young and old. Thousands of spectators line the Intracoastal Waterway to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Christmas Boat Parade.The Christmas Boat Parade organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The first Venice Christmas Boat Parade was held in 1989 with 41 boats.
Parade Route
The parade begins just north of the Albee Road Bridge and proceeds to the South on the Intracoastal Waterway. It passes both the Pelican Alley Restaurant and Pop’s Restaurant. In continues into the Venice Jetties until it is even with the end of the land and turns around passing by the Crow’s Nest Restaurant. It continues South on the Intracoastal Waterway past Marker 4 Restaurant, the public boat launch by the historic train station and passes under the North Bridge to Island of Venice. It continues under the Venice Ave. Bridge and continues past the Venice High School and South to the Circus Bridge. The parade ends at the Circus Bridge near Marine Max of Venice.
During the parade, both the North Bridge and the Venice Ave. bridges remain raised. The Circus Bridge remains down for vehicular traffic.