2024 Holiday on the Harbor Festival & Boat Parade of Lights

Name: 2024 Holiday on the Harbor Festival & Boat Parade of Lights
Start: 2024-12-14T12:00:00-05:00
End: 2024-12-14T19:00:00-05:00
Location: Carrabelle Riverfront

December 14 @ 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Lighted boat sits in the harbor with a red firework bursting above

Join the Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce for 2024 Holiday on the Harbor Festival and Boat Parade of Lights on Saturday, December 14 from 12-7 pm ET on Marine Street and along the harbor in Carrabelle, FL. This festival will feature terrific children’s activities, arts and crafts, delicious food, music, dance, a lighted boat parade and fireworks. This free, family-friendly festival has become a favorite Christmas tradition for the entire Forgotten Coast community and beyond!

The children’s activities includes traditions like Visits with Santa, mini-train rides, a bouncy house (courtesy of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department), and a book giveaway by Bring Me a Book Franklin. In keeping with the Carrabelle tradition, Santa will make his grand entrance on the City of Carrabelle Fire Truck. Children and families are welcome to come by Santa’s booth, visit with Santa, and get their photos with Santa for free.

This event will also include yummy holiday treats, a variety of delicious food and wonderful art, crafts and goods for holiday gifts. There will be live music by Kevin Whoo as well as festival favorite DJ Beanie Baby spinning those holiday and festival tunes. Guests can also enjoy wonderful dance performances from the Forgotten Coast Dancing Witches, Tallahassee State College Dance Company and, new this year, the Mountain Dew Cloggers. The majority of the festivities will take place along the Carrabelle harbor along Marine Street.

As part of Holiday on the Harbor, First Baptist Church of Carrabelle will present a special program titled Missing Christmas on Saturday, at 5:00 pm at the church at 206 SE Avenue A. For those who are unable to attend on Saturday, there will also be a presentation of Missing Christmas on Friday, December 13, at 6:00 pm.

While in Carrabelle, visitors are invited to complete their holiday shopping with unique and one of a kind items at Carrabelle’s wonderful stores, gift shops and art galleries conveniently located within walking distance of the festival. Then guests can enjoy delicious fresh seafood and tasty home-style cooking at one of several cafes, restaurants or festival food vendors.

After enjoying hours of food, festivities, and fun, festival-goers are invited to watch the magical Christmas parade of boats decked out in lights, décor, and holiday outfits! Find a spot along the water and enjoy this parade with double the lights as the Carrabelle harbor beautifully reflects back the glow of the lighted boats. See this special nautical tradition from an unbeatable viewing point by entering your own decorated boat for free!

The parade starts around 6:15 pm and proceeds around the Carrabelle harbor between the Marine St. Fishing Pavilion and the Tillie Miller Bridge so it can be enjoyed from many viewing spots. (Please stay in public access areas only. Do not enter private property.)

Following the Boat Parade the fun continues with a fireworks finale! The boat parade trophies including the Marina Challenge Trophy will be awarded at an awards ceremony shortly after at C-Quarters Marina. Former Mayor Brenda La Paz, Navy Veteran Greg Kristofferson, and current Mayor Sebrina Brown will be the MCs for the ceremony providing holiday music and fun!

A big thank you to the wonderful volunteers and sponsors, Centennial Bank, Duke Energy, and Emerald Coast Federal Credit Union, who help make Holiday on the Harbor possible. Still have questions? For information about being a vendor, information for vessels, or about general activities: call the Chamber @ (850) 697-2585 or email chamber@nettally.com. This event is hosted by the Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce, funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council, and generous local sponsors.

VOLUNTEERS: We are in need of volunteers to help make the Holiday on the Harbor and Boat Parade of Lights possible. We need volunteers to help with set-up Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Volunteers are also needed on Saturday during the day to man the Chamber tent, help with trash pick up, monitor the bouncy house and other duties. Volunteers will work in 2 hour increments. Volunteers are what make this happen every year. You are needed and you are always appreciated! Please contact the Chamber office to sign up as a volunteer today! Chamber@nettally.com or 850-697-2585.

SPONSORS: We are also still looking for event sponsors. This is especially important this year as we are trying to raise extra funds to bring the Fireworks Finale back at the request of our community. Sponsorship packages range from $100 for the bronze level to $1000 dollars for the platinum level. Sponsors get advertising and other perks for their investment. If you would like to be a sponsor, contact the Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce at (850) 697-2585. For details: 2024 HOH SPONSOR.

VENDORS: Want to be a vendor? Click here for the PDF version of the 2024 VENDOR REGISTRATION! Vendor deadline is Monday, December 9, 2024 or until the category fills but food vendor spaces fill early. Don’t delay.

BOAT PARADE ENTRIES: Those interested in entering a boat in the Boat Parade of Lights, there is no fee and registration is needed by Friday, December 13th. For more information and to sign up, Register your entry online for the Boat Parade of Lights. Or if you would prefer to download and print the registration form, you can find it here: 2024 BOAT PARADE REGISTRATION.