The Palm Valley Boat Parade starts at 6 PM on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, at Marker #3 on the Intracoastal Waterway, one mile south of the Palm Valley Bridge. From there it heads north to the last home in Marsh Landing. It's free to watch, it's run by volunteers, and it has been a Palm Valley tradition since 1993.
Look through the rest of Ponte Vedra Beach's December calendar and the parade stands out. Many of the season's best-known traditions ask for a Nocatee resident ID, a club membership, a resort reservation or a concert ticket. The parade asks for a folding chair and a spot on the water. It also covers a lot more water than the bridge photos suggest, and that changes where you might want to watch it.
The Route Runs Long, and the Boats Move Slowly
The Ponte Vedra Recorder's 2025 preview described the route as more than seven miles of Intracoastal, from south of the bridge to the end of Marsh Landing. The parade's own rules keep it slow. The lead boat holds to six knots or less, and boats stay at least 300 feet apart. Over that distance, it takes a while.
Here's how the evening has unfolded along the route in past years:
- 6 PM, Marker #3. Boats line up one mile south of the Palm Valley Bridge and start north.
- Shortly after, the Palm Valley Bridge. The parade site calls this a popular place to watch and suggests arriving early with a chair. In 2024 the Ponte Vedra Recorder estimated about 300 spectators under the bridge between 6 and 8 PM.
- Around 8:05 to 8:30 PM, Marsh Landing. That's when Florida NewsLine said the 2024 parade was expected to reach the finish, with live pacing updates planned.
Florida NewsLine's 2022 coverage said organizers usually have 20 to 30 boats. It listed Mickler's Wharf, the area under the bridge and restaurants along the route as places people have watched from. If you live on the water anywhere between the bridge and Marsh Landing, the parade passes your dock. And because it moves so slowly, the north end sees the lights much later than the bridge does.
Docks Count as Much as Boats
That long stretch of waterfront is also why the parade judges docks. The 2026 registration form has four classes: power boats over 30 feet, power boats under 30 feet, sailboats, and docks. The parade rules spell out how the dock contest works:
- A dock has to be registered and show its assigned number.
- Judges score the dock itself. Lit trees, houses and anything else that isn't over the water don't count.
- Organizers and participating boaters do the judging, and the winner is named "Palm Valley's Top Dock."
- Boats show their number on the starboard side and communicate on VHF Channel 72.
Boat and dock registration for 2026 is open now. Palm Valley Community Association and St. Johns County Parks & Recreation are the presenting partners.
Getting to the Bridge: Past Years as a Guide
The parade's viewing page confirms the Dec. 5 date and 6 PM start. It lists parking, shuttle service, accessible arrival, seating and other services as still being finalized by the parade team. It also posts a 2026 park-and-ride map for reference and asks guests to check the details before Dec. 5. If an access need will affect your evening, the team takes questions at [email protected] or (770) 827-9318.
The last two years give you a sense of how the bridge area has been set up:
2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
Event window | 6 to 8 PM | 6 to 8 PM |
Remote parking | Back lot of Alice B. Landrum Middle School, 230 Landrum Lane | Landrum Middle School |
Shuttle hours | 4:45 to 7:30 PM | 5 to 7:45 PM |
On-site parking | Limited, at Palm Valley East Boat Ramp, 383 S. Roscoe Blvd. | Mainly for ADA and handicap needs |
At the bridge | Bleachers, Christmas music, food trucks, portable restrooms, safety lighting | First-come bleachers, food trucks, holiday music, children's games |
In 2024, according to the Ponte Vedra Recorder, Council on Aging buses carried hundreds of guests between Landrum Middle School and the bridge. The paper's December 2025 follow-up said many residents watched along the Intracoastal and called the night a success.
For dinner nearby, Palm Valley Fish Camp sits at 299 Roscoe Blvd. N., keeps daily hours, takes reservations, and describes itself as steps from the Intracoastal. Book ahead if you want a table before the boats come through.
Dec. 5 Is the Busiest Night on the Calendar
The parade has competition that Saturday. Just west in Nocatee, Nocatee A Glow runs Dec. 4 and 5 from 6:30 to 9:30 PM at Spray Waterpark and Nocatee Station Field, 400 Nocatee Center Way. The evening includes a Christmas Village, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a petting zoo, a train, a food-truck village and a light show. Residents get in free with ID. Guests need a resident to escort them and a ticket, $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has Photos with Santa that same day, booked in 10-minute slots at $55 per reservation.
If you're in Nocatee, Friday gives you a way to do both. A Glow on Dec. 4 leaves Saturday evening open for the water. Ponte Vedra Inn & Club holds its Gingerbread Reveal on Dec. 4 too, with a holiday movie on the Croquet Lawn.
The Rest of the Season, Sorted by Who Can Go
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club's holiday calendar notes that some of its events are open only to resort guests and club members. Nocatee's resident calendar works the same way for some events. Here's how the season breaks down from mid-November on:
Event | Date | Where | Access and price |
|---|---|---|---|
Holiday Shoppes preview night | Fri., Nov. 13, 5:30 to 7:30 PM | First Coast Cultural Center, 6000B Sawgrass Village Circle | $45 |
Holiday Shoppes | Nov. 14, 10 AM to 4 PM; Nov. 15, 11 AM to 4 PM | First Coast Cultural Center | Public market |
Fall into Christmas Holiday Market | Sat., Nov. 14, 4 to 7 PM | Nocatee Station Field | On Nocatee's resident calendar |
Psych Ed Connections Turkey Trot, 11th annual | Thurs., Nov. 26; kids' run 7:30 AM, 5K and 10K 8 AM | Nocatee Station Field, 245 Nocatee Center Way | Registration through RunSignup; $20 kids, $60 5K, $65 10K |
Thanksgiving Turkey Trot | Thurs., Nov. 26 | Ponte Vedra Inn & Club | $50, includes T-shirt and continental breakfast |
Kenny G, "The Miracles Holiday and Hits Tour" | Sun., Dec. 6, 7:30 PM | Ponte Vedra Concert Hall | $97.58 to $244.99 |
Santa Hayrides | Dec. 6 and 20 | Ponte Vedra Inn & Club | $30 per person |
Mindi Abair, "I Can't Wait For Christmas" | Tues., Dec. 8, 8 PM | Ponte Vedra Concert Hall | $81.14 to $160.51 |
Shaun Cassidy, "UNWRAPPED" | Sat., Dec. 12, 8 PM | Ponte Vedra Concert Hall | $69.23 to $165.62 |
Nocatee Breakfast with Santa | Sat., Dec. 12, 8 AM to noon | Blue Water Bar & Grill | Residents only; $15 adult, $10 child; tickets on sale Nov. 23 |
Cookies, Carols, & Cocoa | Sat., Dec. 19 | Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, beachside | No reservation required |
Breakfast with Santa | Dec. 19 and 20 | Ponte Vedra Inn & Club | $48 adult, $30 child ages 4 to 10 |
Thanksgiving morning has two turkey trots. The Nocatee race benefits Holly's Hope, starts at Splash/Spray Park and finishes on the wooded Greenway trail. For holiday dinners, the Inn has the same pricing on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: $110 per adult and $30 per child ages 4 to 10. You can choose a buffet at the Historic Inn or a prix fixe dinner in the Golf Club Dining Room from 5 to 9 PM, and reservations are required. The Historic Inn buffet runs noon to 7 PM on Thanksgiving, 3 to 9 PM on Christmas Eve and 2 to 8 PM on Christmas Day.
The Concert Hall shows need a ticket. Holiday Shoppes is a good stop for gifts in mid-November. Of all the events on the calendar, the boat parade is the only one where anyone can show up, sit by the water and watch for free.
Whether you're decorating a dock along the route or looking for a spot at the bridge, I'm always glad to compare notes on Palm Valley's best December nights. And if your plans for the coming year include a move or a home on the water, The Real Jacksonville is here when you're ready. Schedule a Consultation and let's talk.
