Best Places to Watch the Boat Parade

There are several places Sarasotans can get a glimpse of the boat parade. Sarasota Patch gives  you five public places you can get the best and most unique views of the Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. 

1.     : Tons of parking and spectators get to see the beginning of the parade. The only negatives are limited viewing and enough places to set up a blanket or lawn chair for viewing.

2.     : If you wish to take on the crowds, you can get an up-close seat to the boat parade. From Dolphin Island you can watch the boats circle around the park at the end of the parade. Parking will be a premium so get there early.

3.     : This is where the boats line up for the parade and where the countdown is for when the switch is flipped to turn on all the boat lights at once.

4.     : Parking is very limited but this may be the only park in Sarasota that you can see the entire parade from start to finish.

5.     John Ringling Bridge: Get a birds eye view of the parade as it begins along New Pass between Lido and Longboat keys, passes by Centennial Park and goes under Ringling bridge on its way to Dolphin Island.