It’s the annual boat parade! Boats! Music! Entertainment! Everything in between!
The Bonita Springs Boat Parade is a blast of an event, gathering all the best pieces of Bonita Springs in one big holiday-themed extravaganza for all. It is a great time to stay at one of our Bonita Springs vacation rentals and see the Imperial River glow.
We look at exactly what makes this event special and what you can expect when you add it to your vacation itinerary.
When is It?
Come to Bonita Springs on December 14th for the most uproarious holiday event of the year. The boat parade proper begins at 5:30 p.m. and is expected to run for about two hours. Following the parade, other festivities will commence. For years now, the boat parade has always been the second Saturday of December. If you can’t make it this year, mark it down a year in advance for 2020!
What is It?
In short, the Bonita Springs Boat parade is a parade of boats loaded with holiday cheer. Locals and visitors alike will light up their boats, cover them with decorations, and line them up along the boat club. Guests can take as many pictures as they see fit as they watch the boats head down the bulk of the Imperial River.
The boat parade will venture through suburban Bonita Springs and passes many major attractions along the way.
How Do You Get There?
You can hit along virtually any point on the Imperial River to see the boat parade. Though with that said, we suggest you begin your evening at the Bay Water Boat Club. Here, you can see all the participants getting ready for the trip along the river. This acts as the home base for the event.
Bay Water Exclusive Boat Club and rentals is located at 5124 Bonita Beach Blvd.
What Else is There?
While the boat parade is the main course, you can enjoy other local attractions. We suggest visiting the Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, famous for its quiet water access and a lovely beach. You can also take a romantic romp to Lover’s Key. There are quaint walking trails and a stellar beachside.
There are also some fantastic things to do right at the Imperial River. This way, you can enjoy the parade and play for the day! We recommend visiting the tranquil and somewhat isolated Imperial River Preserve. It is a quiet little haven right at the mouth of the river. The boats are sure to head right in and collect at the mouth.
You can also check out the much-more-inland Riverside Park. It is a few miles away from the gulf, but it offers a lot of fun things to do, such as outdoor movie screenings and music.
Finally, you can spend your afternoon leading up to the parade at the Everglades Wonder Gardens. This museum/sanctuary is a stunning wildlife haven famous for its bright-pink flamingo shows. Admission is $12 for ages 13 and older and $7 for ages 3-12. The Everglades Gardens is located right next to Riverside Park. You can easily see both and spend your evening watching as the boats glide on by!
Where Can I Learn More?
If you need additional details, you can contact 239-495-0455. If you need to review our vacation rentals in Bonita Springs, Florida, give us a call at any time/. We can help guide you to some of our best selections for your group. Book a rental right in the heart of Bonita. You may even be lucky enough to have a home right on the Imperial River where you can watch the parade from your patio!
