Tampa Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season
Where: Tampa Riverwalk / Hillsborough River, Downtown, Tampa, Florida
When: Saturday, December 20, 2025
Hours: Kickoff at 6:15 PM
Cost: free
billed as the largest lighted boat paradeviewable from Sparkman Wharf, the Convention Center, and Curtis Hixon Parkattraction
Decorated, illuminated vessels cruise the Hillsborough River past downtown Tampa in what is billed as the area's largest lighted boat parade. Waterfront viewing along the Riverwalk, Sparkman Wharf, and Curtis Hixon Park is free.
Best time to arrive. Sunset in Tampa is around 5:36 PM in mid-December, fully dark by about 6:02 PM. A typical December night here bottoms out near 52°F, so dress for standing around outside.
Other displays nearby
There are 8 other displays within 5 miles of this one, and 12 within 15 miles. Most people make a loop of it rather than driving out for a single house.
- Bayshore Boulevard / Hyde Park
- Holiday Spectacular on the Tampa Riverwalk
- River of Lights Holiday Boat Cruise (Pirate Water Taxi)
- Streamside Drive in Carrollwood
- Winter Village Express Streetcar
- Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park
- YuleTides at The Florida Aquarium
- Christmas In The Wild at ZooTampa
Make a night of it. This is stop 6 on our 11-stop Tampa lights loop — about 19.9 miles and 92 minutes of driving in total.