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Waterfront Spectacles: Boat Parades, Riverfront Events & New Year’s Cruises
Few cities celebrate on water quite like Fort Lauderdale. December’s highlight—the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade—turns the Intracoastal Waterway into a glittering procession of yachts decked in thousands of lights. For anyone staying with Rocket Stay, it’s an unmissable spectacle just minutes away.
As the sun sets, locals and travellers line the waterfront, restaurants fill with diners watching the reflections ripple across the surface, and a hum of anticipation builds as the first illuminated boats glide by. Each vessel is themed—some playful, some grand, all unique—and the entire event captures the spirit of South Florida’s endless summer even in the middle of winter.
But the boat parade is only the beginning. Through December, the city’s marinas host dockside markets, pop-up bars and charity cruises that let you experience the water from every angle. On New Year’s Eve, the celebration shifts from family fun to full glamour with waterfront fireworks, rooftop countdowns, and dinner cruises that let guests toast midnight under open skies. Those staying with Rocket Stay can easily step from a lively night out back to the calm of their modern apartment—a place to rest, recharge and watch the last bursts of colour fade beyond the skyline.
In January, the rhythm slows but doesn’t stop. The annual Las Olas Art Fair fills the streets with sculpture, photography, and handmade design while live bands play along the promenade. The cooler temperatures make outdoor dining irresistible; cafés spill onto sidewalks and the energy remains bright but unhurried. The best part of this season is its contrast—sunshine in the day, crisp evenings, and water everywhere you look. Whether you join a New Year’s Eve yacht party or simply watch the reflections from your balcony, Fort Lauderdale reminds you that winter can still shine.
