Holiday on the Harbor & Boat Parade of Lights

The Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce would like to invite residents and visitors to the 2022 Holiday on the Harbor Street Festival and Boat Parade of Lights on Saturday, December 10 from 1 – 8 pm in beautiful downtown Carrabelle, FL. This street festival will feature terrific children’s activities, arts and crafts, delicious food and drink, live entertainment, a lighted boat parade and a fireworks finale. This free, family-friendly festival has become a favorite Christmas tradition for the entire Forgotten Coast community and beyond!

The children’s activities will include several exciting new ones and of course some family favorites. New this year there will be a Children’s Petting Zoo featuring sheep, goats, bunnies, a mini cow, a mini horse, a mini donkey and a pig! Also this year in addition to the wonderful Sheriff’s Department bouncy house, there will also be a huge inflatable slide. Returning are some of the Holiday on the Harbor traditions like visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, mini-train rides, face painting and a book giveaway by Bring Me a Book Franklin.

This event will also include yummy holiday treats, a variety of delicious food and wonderful art, crafts and goods for holiday gifts as well as a craft beer garden. There will be live music by Cody Barber and by the band, Cheap Sunglasses, as well as a demonstration from the Franklin ROTC students, a festive dance performance, and then a street dance with a DJ. The majority of the festivities will take place along the Carrabelle harbor along Marine Street.

While in Carrabelle, visitors are invited to complete their holiday shopping with unique and one of 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, music and even some 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 boat decorations. See this special nautical tradition from an unbeatable viewing point by entering your own decorated boat for free!

The parade starts at around 6:15 pm and proceeds around the Carrabelle harbor between the Marine Street Fishing Pavilion and the Tillie Miller Bridge on US 98 so it can be enjoyed from many viewing spots along the route. (Please stay on public access areas only. Do not enter private property.) The parade grand finale is a fantastic fireworks display courtesy of the City of Carrabelle. The boat parade trophies including the Marina Challenge Trophy will be awarded at a ceremony at C-Quarters Marina shortly after.

A big thank you to the wonderful volunteers and sponsors who help make Holiday on the Harbor possible – Gold Sponsors: Air Con of Wakulla and Coastal Realty Group. For more information and vendor or boat parade registration forms, please visit https://www.carrabelle.org/ or contact Chamber@nettally.com or 850-697-2585.  Funded in part by Carrabelle CRA and the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.