PRESS RELEASE

OCTOBER 6, 2026

Stars, Stripes & Christmas Lights Take to the Water

FORT PIERCE - The 36th Annual St. Lucie County Christmas Boat Parade returns to Fort Pierce on Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., bringing a spectacular display of decorated boats, holiday lights and Christmas spirit to our waterfront.

Brought to you by the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast (MIATC) and the Fort Pierce Yacht Club (FPYC), this year's parade celebrates America's 250th anniversary and Fort Pierce's 125th anniversary with the theme “Stars, Stripes & Christmas Lights,” adding a patriotic touch to one of the community's favorite holiday traditions.

The “Stars, Stripes & Christmas Lights” theme gives participating captains plenty of room for creativity. Boats are encouraged to incorporate the patriotic spirit of the year into their holiday displays, whether through lights, flags, music, decorations or an imaginative combination of all three.

While the decorated boats are the stars of the show, a parade of this size takes an entire community to make it happen. The event is organized by volunteers from MIATC, FPYC, Marine Cleanup Initiative, Underwater Engineering Services, Inc., Howden Insurance, Fin & Foil and Fort Pierce City Marina, who all work behind the scenes on everything from registration and staging to judging, sponsorships, safety and communications.

Organizers are encouraging boat owners throughout the Treasure Coast to join in the fun. Whether it’s a small family boat or a larger vessel, the goal is simple: decorate it, light it up and bring the Christmas spirit to Fort Pierce!

The parade will gather at approximately 5:30 p.m. near Daybeacon 188 with the parade getting underway at 6:00 p.m. Boats will travel through the waterfront and Inlet area, giving spectators multiple opportunities to see the decorated fleet.

The best viewing spots are along Seaway Drive, including public beaches, walkways and waterfront restaurants overlooking the Inlet, as well as Museum Point Park. While boats gather in the channel off Fort Pierce City Marina before the parade, the Marina is not recommended for viewing, as the boats are farther from shore.

Planning to watch the parade from your boat? Great idea but we ask that you plan to anchor your vessel in the area NORTH of the channel (not on the South side) to allow the parade participants to navigate closer to shore, making a better experience for all. The event is weather permitting, so follow the parade’s social media channels for the latest updates.

The Pelican Yacht Club will once again serve as the parade’s official judges’ location, giving three judges a front-row view as they watch the decorated boats pass by and take in the creativity, holiday spirit and showmanship of this year’s entries.

The parade remains FREE for participating boaters and the community, thanks to the businesses and organizations that provide financial and in-kind support. Sponsors help provide everything from prizes to promotional items for the Captain’s Buckets distributed to participants.

Organizers are seeking businesses interested in becoming sponsors, prize donors or contributors to the captain’s buckets, helping keep this longtime community tradition FREE for everyone to enjoy.

A Captain’s Meeting will be held on Thursday, December 10, at 5:00 p.m. at (and hosted by) the Fort Pierce Yacht Club. Registered captains or their designee will receive important parade information and their boat numbers in preparation for Saturday night’s event.

The parade once again proudly supports Legit’s Downtown Toy Drive, helping bring holiday cheer to local children and families throughout our community. Parade participants and community members are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys at Legit’s Cuts Barber Shop, 206 N 2nd St., Fort Pierce, or UESI, 3306 Enterprise Rd., Fort Pierce. Every donation helps make the holidays a little brighter!

For updates, registration or sponsorship details, visit www.miatc.org/events/Christmas-Boat-Parades and follow along on Facebook (@StLucieCountyChristmasBoatParade) and Instagram (@SLCXmasBoatParade).

CAPTAINS make the parade.
SPONSORS make the parade possible.
THE COMMUNITY makes it special.

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