Early chair set-up for the Christmas Boat Parade is prohibited

Items staged, placed, or left along the Intracoastal Waterway, Venetian Waterway Park, The Legacy Trail or other parks, easements, right-of-ways or emergency access roads along the parade route before 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6 will be discarded as abandoned property.

Start: 6 p.m. At the Albee Road Bridge near Casey Key and proceeds south along the Intracoastal Waterway passing under the Venice Avenue Bridge. 

End: Before Marine Max. The parade does NOT go to Circus Bridge. The parade takes approximately two hours. 

The parade begins at 6 p.m. from the Albee Farm Road Bridge and travels south at a slow speed of approximately 3 to 5 Knots. It can take over 45 minutes for boats to get from Albee Farm Road bridge to the the North/KMI Bridge, and more than 30 minutes from boats to get to the parade end point from the North/KMI Bridge. Please, be PATIENT!

One passing under the Venice Ave Bridge, boats will travel south just shy of Marine Max. Boats will turn off their decorative lights to return to the launch used to participate. Boats returning to their starting or exit point are no longer considered part of the parade. The parade does NOT travel north and south. 

The Christmas Boat Parade is visible from the Intracoastal Waterway and Venetian Waterway Park including Legacy Park and behind Venice High School. The parade turns around by Marine Max and is NOT viewable from Circus Bridge. 

 View the boat parade along the Intracoastal Waterway

• From the Venetian Waterway Park side (west) between the North/KMI bridge south to MarineMax
• From the Legacy Trail side (east) along Legacy Park
• From behind Venice High School 
• Limited viewing from Casey Key, no viewing from Nokomis Beach Park 
• NO chairs or access at or south of the Venice Urban Forest
• NO viewing from the South Jetty
• NO viewing from Circus Bridge - the parade ends at or just before MarineMax

View the boat parade from waterfront restaurants* including

• Pops Sunset Bar & Grill
• Dockside Waterfront Grill
• Crow’s Nest
• Venice Area Beautification Inc.

*Some reservations or ticket purchases may be required

Why are there bright flashing blue lights at the beginning and end of the boat parade?

Venice Police Department Marine Patrol leads and tails the boat parade. The flashing blue lights or emergency running lights provide visibility for nighttime navigation and allow parade participants to maintain a visual line of site.

Do the bridges stay up? How I drive on/off Venice island?

The North/KMI and W. Venice Avenue bridges close to vehicle traffic and open for boat traffic as the parade approaches and remain open for all vessels to pass through. The Circus Bridge remains locked in the down position available for vehicle traffic. This is a coordinated closure between Venice Police, U.S. Coast Guard, Sarasota County, FDOT and bridge tenders.

Public parking is available first-come-first-served at the following locations that are in walking distances to boat parade viewing areas:

• Nokomis Beach, 100 Casey Key Road, Nokomis, free
• Marina Park/Boat Ramp, 301 E Venice Ave, Venice, free
• Legacy Park, 395 E. Venice Ave, free
• Venice High School, 1 Indian Ave, Venice, $10 fee
• Venetian Waterway Park, 200 N Tamiami Trail, Venice, free

Permanent and portable restrooms are available in the following locations:

• Nokomis Beach, 100 Casey Key Road, Nokomis
• Next to the Venice Gondolier building, 200 E Venice Ave, Venice 
• Venice Train Depot/Legacy Park, 395 E. Venice Ave

Application: Download here. Mail completed forms and fees to 
                                                Venice Christmas Boat Parade, Inc
                                                P.O. Box 1165 Venice FL, 34284
Entry fee: $20
Note: The City of Venice does not host or coordinate participants the Christmas Boat Parade. The parade is managed and organized by parade president and Venice resident Joe Zgrzepski. 

Decorating Rules: The spectators & judges will see your boat for a few minutes...take advantage and make them remember you. It doesn't require thousands of lights.

1. Display your number at the bow starboard and port sides, large enough to see from a distance.  
2. Decorate both sides of your boat. Mirror your decorations, same on starboard and port. 
3. Create a theme or pattern that is festive, clever & eye catching. Examples - cartoons, anything with a Christmas themed movies, children's books, etc.
4. If you are adding music, make sure it is loud enough for the crowds to hear.
5. For costumes & props, make sure they are distinct and large enough to be visible to the audience.
6. DO NOT use spray paint on foam, it will dissolve. Use an acrylic paint.
7. Know your boat - capacity of generator for lights. If needed rent a generator, reserve in advance. Buying a 750-1000 watt Power Inverter does the trick also.
8. Test your lights before you start, even if they are new. Test again when 1/2 are put on and then test again when completed.
9. Attaching your Lights & Figures to the boat:
   • make sure your lights are not hanging/trailing in the water
   • use plastic tie wraps to secure both lights & figures
   • use plant ties that come in rolls. Allows for you to cut the exact length you need or simply twist untie and twist re-tie
   • fishing line solves a multitude of problems

Be careful & check that all decorations and items are secured before launching.