The Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights - A Crowd Pleaser for Young and Old..December 11, 2010 - 6 p.m.The Annual Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights brings out thousands of spectators who line the shores of Sarasota Bay from Centennial Park to Bayfront Park every year. Usually warm temperatures accompany the Christmas Boat Parade of Lights on Sarasota Bay. (The rain date for this event is Sunday December 12, 2010)
There are small boats, medium boats and yachts among the participants in this Armada of brightly lighted and creatively decorated crafts.
More on the Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of LightsWith Holiday music playing from on board sound systems to even live music performances on some boats, it’s a fun and festive time along the waterway. The best places from which to watch the Sarasota Christmas Boat Parade of Lights are: Bayfront Park (The Bayfront Park spectator viewing area has been expanded to reach a portion of the northern tip of the island, near the fountain.), Centennial Park and City Island. (To get to City Island from downtown Sarasota you have to cross the Ringling Bridge, cut across St. Armand’s Circle, following Rt. 789 and then turn northeast on to Ken Thompson Parkway before the bridge to Longboat Key and then head out to City Island.)
Personally, my favorite spot to watch the Sarasota Christmas Boat Parade of Lights from is Centennial Park, just north of the downtown Sarasota area, on the west side of Tamiami Trail (Rt. 41), just next door to the Van Wezel Auditorium (the purple-colored building). It’s just less congested and much roomier here plus there’s much more free parking at Centennial Park than along Bayfront Park or on nearby downtown Sarasota streets.
Have a wonderful time! Return from Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade to Sarasota Calendar of Events.
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