Lighted Boat Parades and Holiday Festivities on the Bay
Lighted boat parade season is the most wonderful time of the year along the waterfront! Find your local boat parade below. Be sure to check event websites for last-minute updates or cancellations; if more events are announced, we will add them to our calendar.
Middle River, MD, Lighted Boat Parade: November 30. The Mid-Atlantic’s largest lighted boat parade and almost the largest in the US!
RRYC Lights on the Creek Lighted Boat Parade: November 30. Hosted by the Rappahannock River Yacht Club (RRYC) on Carters Creek in Irvington, VA. The club docks will be open to all, including the general public, for parade viewing and judging from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. All club members, parade participants, and their guests are invited to a post-parade party at RRYC from 7 to 10 p.m. featuring chili, cornbread, salad, and dessert. Tickets $25; BYOB. Registration is required.
Colonial Beach Lighted Boat Parade: November 30. From 5 to 7 p.m. in Colonial Beach, VA. Location: Potomac River, Marker #2, just off of the Colonial Beach Point. Presented by the Colonial Yacht Club.
Bear Creek Sailing Association Lighted Boat Parade: December 7 at 5 p.m. at the Hard Yacht Cafe.
Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights: December 7. At 5:30 p.m. the parade begins at the Alexandria City Marina in Alexandria, VA, and cruises southward. Head to Waterfront Park at the foot of King Street for festivities from 2 to 8 p.m. including a pop-up beer garden, food and beverage vendors, and family-friendly activities. The parade stretches for one mile along Old Town Alexandria’s waterfront. Find a list of viewing locations and register your boat at visitalexandria.com.
Yorktown Lighted Boat Parade: December 7. 6 to 8 p.m. in Yorktown, VA. Pre-parade festivities start at 6 p.m. and include caroling around illuminated braziers, a musical performance by the Fifes and Drums of York Town, and complimentary hot cider. At 7 p.m. the boats will finish out the evening as they make their way down the river in a dazzling show of lights. The Yorktown Trolley will run from 5 to 9 p.m. To register, head to visityorktown.org.
Holiday Boat Parade and Party at the Wharf: December 7. 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wharf in Washington, DC. Celebrate the holidays with this DC event that features more than 60 beautifully decorated boats parading along the Washington Channel. Party to live music from Yani the Band on District Pier while you sip on hot toddies and drinks from the Corona Cheer Garden. Get into the spirit with ornament decorating, holiday karaoke, s’mores at Camp Wharf, visits with Santa, the Jack Daniel’s Barrel Tree, and a 45-foot illuminated Christmas tree on District Pier. A spectacular fireworks salute will conclude the boat parade at 8 p.m. Visit wharfdc.com/boatparade to register your boat.
Bohemia River Boaters Lighted Boat Parade in Chesapeake City: December 7. In Chesapeake City, MD. The starting point will be near the mouth of the Bohemia River. Boats will head towards the west side of the C&D canal around 5 p.m. and continue east towards the Chesapeake City Bridge arriving at approximately 5:30/5:45 p.m. Good viewing locations include Pell Gardens, Bayard House, Schaefer’s Canal House, and Chesapeake Inn Restaurant and Marina. Bring canned goods and non-perishable items to help fill Chesapeake City’s food pantry; boxes will be set up at all of the restaurants listed and Pell Gardens. For more information, visit chesapeakecity.com and the Bohemia River Boaters Facebook group.
Pasadena Lighted Boat Parade: December 7. The Broken Oar in Pasadena, MD, will start things off with a Pre-Parade Party for all Captains and first mates from 3 to 5 p.m. Parade boaters will cast off at 5 p.m. and motor to Rock Creek, arriving at 5:45 p.m. and return and do two loops through Stoney Creek and Nabbs Creek from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Boaters return to the Broken Oar around 7:30 p.m. There will be Christmas music, a kiddie corner, Santa, a special drink menu, and more. Admission: $5 (ages 12 and under are free). To register for the boat parade, contact Keegan Fisher at [email protected]. Visit facebook.com/PasadenaBoatParade for updates.
Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats: December 7. 6 to 8 p.m. in Baltimore, MD. Watch the creatively decorated vessels as they parade around the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, and Canton in holiday style. sailbaltimore.org/events.php
St. Michaels Lighted Boat Parade: December 14. In St. Michaels, MD. The parade will take place around the harbor, with several great viewing locations. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will open its campus, and an admission fee will be charged after 4 p.m. The exhibition buildings will be closed, but the bathrooms will be open. For a map of the parade route and to register your boat, visit christmasinstmichaels.org.
Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade: December 14. 6 to 8 p.m. in Annapolis, MD. The Spa Creek Bridge will be closed to vehicles crossing between downtown Annapolis and Eastport periodically from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Viewing locations include the Eastport Bridge, Naval Academy, City Dock, and Ego Alley. You can find more at eastportyc.org/lights-parade, as well as a map of the parade route and boat registration information.
Hampton Lighted Boat Parade: December 14. The Hampton River will come to life as a fleet of decorated boats parades past the Downtown Hampton waterfront. The parade runs from 7 to 8 p.m. and concludes with an awards ceremony at 8:30 p.m. Following the parade, Santa will join the fun dockside. This event is free and open to the public. Register your boat and view the parade route at downtownhampton.com/lightedboatparade.
Deale’s Annual Parade of Lights: December 15. 5:30 p.m. Learn more at facebook.com/dealmdparadeoflights and [email protected].
More Holiday Happenings:
Midnight Madness Downtown Annapolis. December 5 and 12 from 4 p.m. until Midnight and December 19 from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. Residents and visitors are invited to stroll along Main Street, West Street, Maryland Avenue, State Circle, Market Space, and Dock Street to support local businesses. The streets will be filled with entertainment and holiday decorations, and the shops will have refreshments and sales.
A Dickens of a Christmas: December 6-7. Chestertown’s annual Victorian holiday extravaganza. This two-day event includes entertainment, home tours, food, book talks, merchandise, and more.
Cambridge-Dorchester County Christmas Parade: December 7. Lineup at 4 p.m., parade at 5 p.m. Once hailed as the ‘largest nighttime parade,’ the event continues each year as a timeless tradition throughout the decades.
Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk: December 7. Dozens of Scottish clans dressed in colorful tartans parade through the streets of Old Town, joined by pipe and drum bands, as well as terriers and hounds, community groups, and more.
Christmas in Yorktown: December 7. Christmas Market, Yuletide Celebration, and Lighted Boat Parade: visityorktown.org/calendar.aspx.
Christmas in St. Michaels: December 13-15. Events throughout the town of St. Michaels, MD, including a gingerbread house competition, breakfast with Santa, the Talbot Street Parade (Saturday at 9:30 a.m.), and more. The mission of the event is to provide resources to help local nonprofit groups enhance the quality of life for the residents of the Bay Hundred community.
Find more events for sailors here.
