Winter Park Boat Parade & Festival of Lights
December 14th - 3:30pm to 8:00pm
-
The 9th Annual Winter Park Boat Parade & Festival of Lights is a fun, family event bringing the community together with light displays. Watch as boats decorated for the holidays with light displays glide in a water parade along the shores of lakes Virginia and Osceola.
The evening begins at Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens with a water ski show at Rollins College at 3:30 pm. After the water ski show and beginning at 4 pm, the museum will host the official judging station for the parade with music, food, wine, and beer. Proceeds from food and drink sales will benefit the Rotary Club of Winter Park. Admission to the museum and gardens will be free for this event. Bring a blanket and cheers to relax in while you enjoy the show. If you can't make it to Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, another viewing area is at the Dinky Dock off Fairbanks Avenue.
Several live entertainment acts will be performing throughout the night. At the WUCF tent there will be jazz music provided by the Gazebros Band with musical selections from the 40s through the present time. They will also be adding some “sing-along” holiday tunes for guests to the event. The Winter Park Public Library’s Spellbinders will perform and recite classic Christmas stories, and other musical offerings will include the “Minute Men,” an all-male a cappella choral group, performing Christmas carols.
The parade will begin at sundown on the east shore of Lake Virginia (near Dinky Dock) and proceed clockwise around the shores of Lake Virginia, navigating through the Palm Canal to Lake Osceola around 6:30 pm.
Ample parking will be available at the Albin Polasek Museum for a $5 donation.
All local licensed area boat owners are invited to participate. Boat registration is required with applications available by contacting the Polasek at 407-647-6294 or visiting the website wpboatparade.com All proceeds from this Orlando event will benefit The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens and the Rotary Club of Winter Park Charitable Foundation.