It's the most wonderful time of the year. Places like CityPlace have already lit up the streets with holiday lights and gigantic snowflakes. And the decorations and festivities are spreading quickly. Here's a list of the best holiday events and sights in Palm Beach County this year:
Must-sea parades
46th Annual Holiday Boat Parade
Once again, Boynton Beach and Delray Beach are putting together a flotilla of brightly-decorated boats. The party begins at Boynton Harbor Marina at 6 p.m. with live music, and the parade starting at 6:30 p.m. Bring toys to donate to Toys for Tots.
Info: Dec. 8, beginning at 6 pm, from Lantana Bridge near Key Lime House traveling south along the Intracoastal Waterway to the C-15 canal in Delray Beach; 561-234-7250.
41th Annual Boca Raton Holiday Boat Parade
Info: Dec. 16, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Red Reef Park, 1400 N State Road A1A Boca Raton. Boat parade begins from the Intracoastal Waterway starting at the C-15 canal (Boca Raton-Delray Beach city limits) traveling south to Hillsboro Bridge; 561-367-7076.
Info: Dec. 2, starting at 6 p.m. arrives in Jupiter aprroximately at 8 p.m. Travels along the Intracoastal from North Palm Beach to the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. Mo and Sally from KOOL 105.5 will be on the Loggerhead Marina Grand Marshall Boat; 561-863-0012.
Landlubber holiday parades
Boca Raton Holiday Parade Info: Dec. 6, 7:30-9 p.m.; Federal Highway, from SE 5th Street to N. Mizner Park Boulevard; 561-367-7073.
Delray Beach Holiday Parade Info: Dec. 9, 6 p.m., along Atlantic Avenue from the Intracoastal west to the Fire Department; 561-243-7000, ext.5101.
Jupiter-Tequesta Holiday Parade Info: Dec. 10, 1 p.m., along Alternate A1A from Center Street to Bridge Road. This year's theme is The Twelve Days of Christmas.
"Intergalactic" Lake Worth Holiday Parade Info: Dec. 16, 6 p.m., starting 414 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth.
34th Annual Wellington Holiday Parade Info: Dec. 10, 1:30 p.m beginning at Wellington Trace and Forest Hill Boulevard. Also visit the holiday park at the Wellington Amphitheater from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. located at 12100 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. This years theme: A World of Make Believe.
Tree lightings
Palm Beach Gardens Info: Dec. 6, 6 to 8 p.m., Burns Road Recreation Center, 4404 Burns Road Palm Beach Gardens. There will be live music, children's games and a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Credit: Greg Lovett
Credit: Greg Lovett
West Palm Beach Info: Nov. 30, 6 to 9:30 p.m. 100 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach. In addition to the lighting of Sandi, the 600-ton sand tree, the nightly light shows begin along with live music from Chemradery and Valerie Tyson.
Lake Worth Info: Dec. 1, 6:30 p.m., Lake Worth Cultural Plaza, 414 Lake Ave., Lake Worth.
Menorah lighting
Delray Beach Info: Dec. 12, at sundown, approximately at 5:30 p.m. Old School Square Park, 96 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Delray Beach.
Festivals and the arts
Credit: Damon Higgins
Credit: Damon Higgins
Delray Beach Carols by Candlelight: Dec. 2, 7 p.m. at the Old School Square Pavilion, NE 1 Ave., Delray Beach. Cost is $15. Local performers open the festivities followed by national headliners including Andy Childs, John Ford Coley and The Little River Band. Witness a lighting of 1,000 candles in the audience. For more information, 561-243-7922.
Delray Beach "Twas the Night Before Christmas": Dec. 7, 5:30 p.m. Storytelling at Cason Cottage at Delray Beach Historical Society, 5 NE 1 Street, Delray Beach; 561-274-9578.
Delray Beach: Screen on the Green. Dec. 16, 6:30 p.m.. A free holiday-themed movie night on the huge screen at Old School Square Pavilion, NE 1 Ave., Delray Beach. Donate a toy to The Milagro Center.
December 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m., and December 2 and 3, 2017 at 2 p.m. Tickets begin at $19. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit kravis.org. 701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. 561-832-7469
Wellington's Winterfest: Dec. 8, 6 to 10 p.m. The KVJ Show's annual Vanilla Ice Block Party has joined Winterfest, to put on the mega event from 6-10 p.m., Dec. 8. The event, featuring Vanilla Ice, will also have a Blizzard Beach with snow and zip lining, a vendor village and a beer and margarita garden. Located at: Wellington Amphitheater, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington; 561-792-6525.
All winter long
Nightly Snowfalls at CityPlace: Snowfalls on the plaza at CityPlace nightly through Dec. 31. Mondays through Wednesday, catch the snow at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays: Snowfalls at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. There is no snowfall on Dec. 25.
Hoffman's Winter Wonderland:This year's display will include a new outdoor, 2,400-square-foot ice skating rink. It will be made of real ice. The garden is open daily from 6 to 10 p.m. Festivities will be bigger than ever this year with more than 125,000 LED lights, holiday displays, several Christmas trees and a glowing Hanukkah display, live entertainment and more.
Info: Now through Dec. 30 at Hoffman's Chocolates Factory, 5190 Lake Worth Road.
West Palm Beach's Holiday in Paradise at Sandi Land: Sandi, the 600-ton sand tree is back in town for the winter in downtown West Palm Beach. Enjoy nightly music and light shows.
Info: Through Dec. 31 at 100 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach; 561-822-1515.
Missing this year:
If you're wondering why the Festival of Trees celebration is not on the list, we have sad news: It was discontinued to concentrate on less labor-intensive and revenue-generating events scheduled throughout the season. Read the full story here.
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