Best And Last Holiday Lighted Boat Parades of 2012

(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

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During the holiday season Tampa Bay neighborhoods and boats are ablaze with holiday lights. Holiday lighted boat parades are a Florida tradition and Tampa Bay has embraced that tradition for decades. Almost every community in the bay area that is on or near water celebrates the holiday with their own illuminated boat parade. Here’s our list of Tampa Bay’s best holiday lighted boat parades for 2012.

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St. Pete Beach & South Pasadena
Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
Friday, December 7th 2012 from 6-9pm
www.spbrec.com

This year the parade will start at the Blind Pass Marina and travel south to the Bayway Bridge. All are invited to come to the Viewing Party, Tree Lighting and Concert in Horan Park, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, to watch the boat parade as it passes by the Community Center.

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Clearwater
Island Estates Yacht Club Boat Parade
Saturday, December 8th, 2012 – 6-8pm

The vessels will assemble at the Mandalay Channel between Island Estates and Clearwater Beach at 6 p.m. and head north through the channel, arriving at Coachman Park by about 8 p.m. They then navigate under the Memorial Causeway Bridge to the Clearwater Yacht Club for judging.

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Treasure Island Holiday Boat Parade
Saturday, December 8th 2012 – 6:20pm
www.mytreasureisland.org

The parade begins at The Club at Treasure Island, 400 Treasure Island Causeway and ends at John’s Pass around 8:30pm, passing through channel at the Treasure Island Causeway Bridge (an excellent viewing spot) around 7pm. Pre-parade party at The Club at 4pm. Rain date: Sunday, December 9. The Treasure Island Causeway Bridge will close to vehicular traffic at 7pm on December 8, 2012 for approximately 30 to 45 minutes to allow the boat parade to pass through.

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St Petersburg 26th Annual Illuminated Boat Parade
Saturday, December 8th, 2012 -
Fesival 3-10pm | Parade 6:00 pm
www.stpeteboatparade.org

This is a day long family festival in downtown St. Petersburg’s Vinoy park. Food and drinks, great live entertainment, a variety of children’s activities and the spectacular 26th Annual Illuminated Boat Parade in the evening. Parade is free but there is a festival admission. The parade travels from Bayboro, passing in front of the Pier, near the shoreline in and around the Vinoy Basin and back out into Tampa Bay.

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Palm Harbor’s Lake Tarpon Holiday Boat Parade
Saturday, December 15, 2012 – 7:30pm
www.wheelchairs4kids.org

Wheelchairs 4 Kids is proud to have been chosen as the Charity of Choice for the Lake Tarpon Holiday Boat Parade. Join us at the Dockside Sports Bar and Grille Tiki Bar in the Lake Tarpon Resort (37611 US Hwy 19 N, Palm Harbor, FL 34684). The party starts at 6 PM. Enjoy a cool beverage or a hot chocolate as we watch the decorated boats make their way around Lake Tarpon.

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Tampa’s Twinkle In Tampa Bay
A Lighted Channelside Boat Parade
Saturday, December 22nd 2012 – 6:30pm

This Tampa Holiday Lighted Boat Parade takes place along the water at the by Davis Island, Harbour Island and the Channelside District. You will be able to see the parade along the a great stretch of land from Davis Island to Channelside near downtown Tampa. Channelside Bay Plaza is a great place to enjoy yourself before or after the parade. Parking is available at several public parking lots. Channelside offers a wide variety of restaurants from Hooters to Bennigan’s and everything in between. Across the street from Channelside is a multi-level parking structure.

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Redington Beach/Indian Shores
Christmas Boat Parade
Saturday, December 23rd 2012 – 6pm
www.myindianshores.com

This boat parade starts in Madeira North of the Tom Stuart Causeway and runs north pass the public view area at Indian Shores Town Hall. The Pub in Indian Shores will host refreshments and the Awards Presentation. The website shows the parade route and best areas for public viewing.