On the evening of Saturday, December 19, a line of lit boats will leave Marker 18 near Bayview Park, head north up Naples Bay, turn at the Gordon River bridge and come back south. The last stop on the route is Port Royal's Man-O-War and Morgan Cove. Port Royal is the neighborhood just south of Aqualane Shores. Aqualane's streets follow canals that lead out to Naples Bay and the Gulf, as a Naples Daily News neighborhood profile describes them.
So an Aqualane boat owner has a short trip from the dock to the parade. Entry is free and open to boats of every size. This year's parade is the 37th. For a household with a boat and about seven weeks until the required captains' meeting, it's worth deciding now whether to be on the water or watching it from shore.
The Route, Stop by Stop
The Marine Industries Association of Collier County runs the parade, and this year's theme is "Blossoms & Bows." The 2026 press release lists the route in four legs:
- Start, 6:15 p.m. at Marker 18, near Bayview Park and Hamilton Harbor Marina.
- North to Naples City Dock, which is the official judging location.
- On to Pincher's at Tin City, at the Gordon River bridge.
- Back down the bay into Port Royal's Man-O-War and Morgan Cove.
The City of Naples places Naples City Dock in Crayton Cove, west of Red 36 on Naples Bay, near 8th Street South and 12th Avenue South. The boats pass the judges before the route turns back south toward Port Royal. That means the fourth leg runs after the judging, along the stretch of bay that sits closest to Aqualane Shores.
The organizer's event page lists the parade as running 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. The Eventbrite ticket page shows a wider window, 6 to 9 p.m. If you're entering a boat, plan around the organizer's 6:15 start. If you're watching, plan around the longer window.
December 16 Is the Real Deadline
The 2026 vessel entry form doesn't give a submission deadline. It does require something with a fixed date: every participant must attend the captains' meeting.
| Date | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| No date printed on the form | Email the completed entry form | [email protected] |
| Wednesday, December 16, 6:30 p.m. | Required captains' meeting | Pincher's at Tin City |
| Saturday, December 19, 6:15 p.m. | Parade begins | Marker 18, Naples Bay |
Counting from the day this post goes out, there are about seven weeks to the captains' meeting. That's enough time to plan lights and a theme, line up a crew and get the form in early. A skipper who misses the Wednesday meeting at Pincher's doesn't meet the participation requirement, whether or not the form went in.
The form asks for the basics: owner or captain's name, contact details, vessel name, manufacturer, length and type. It also includes a hold-harmless clause. By signing it, the owner accepts that taking part is voluntary and at their own risk, and agrees to follow the rules the organizer provides. This is general information, not legal advice. Before signing any release, check your own coverage and obligations with your insurer or attorney.
Which Class Your Boat Lands In
Every boat is judged against others of its type and length, so a 28-foot center console isn't up against a 60-foot motor yacht. The parade flyer and entry form list these classes:
| Vessel type | Classes |
|---|---|
| Power | Up to 30 ft · 31 to 40 ft · 41 to 50 ft · 51 ft and up |
| Sail | Up to 35 ft · 36 ft and up |
| Commercial | Up to 40 ft · 41 ft and up |
| Parade theme | "Blossoms & Bows" best entry |
Awards go to Best in Class in each category, and there's also a Best Overall Theme award. Power boats have four length classes, more than any other type. Sail and commercial entries are split into two classes each.
The organizer encourages decorated boats, holiday lights, costumes and displays. Beyond that, the 2026 materials don't include a lighting or decoration rulebook. Any operating details for the night will come from the organizer, and the captains' meeting is the scheduled place to get them.
Where Everyone Who Isn't Aboard Can Watch
Not everyone in a household will want to ride along in December. MIACC names seven viewing spots along the route:
- Naples City Dock, ticketed, where the judges and VIP guests are
- Pincher's at Tin City, at the route's northern turn
- Riverwalk Restaurant
- Naples Landing
- Kelly's Fish House
- The Boat House on Naples Bay
- Bayview Park, near the starting line at Marker 18
City Dock tickets are sold through Eventbrite, and the listing showed $33.85 per ticket in late October. The organizer calls them limited pre-sale tickets with a front-row waterfront view of the parade. The listing doesn't say what else is included, so check the page before buying for a group.
The viewing spots cover both ends of the route. Bayview Park is at the start. City Dock is where the judges watch. Pincher's at Tin City is at the Gordon River turn. A household could put its boat in the line and send guests to City Dock, then meet back up once the boats reach Port Royal.
Who the Evening Raises Money For
The parade benefits the MIACC Foundation and The Ricky King Fund. The organizer's event page says 100% of the proceeds go to those two beneficiaries.
The Ricky King Children's Fund says its mission is to improve the lives of children with disabilities in Southwest Florida by providing medical equipment and services. According to its application page, it pays for specific medical needs for children in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties when insurance or government agencies won't cover them, and it pays approved vendors directly. Ricky's parents founded the fund and named it for their son. Its history page tells the story.
Entrants can give at the same time they sign up. The entry form has a line for a donation to The Ricky King Fund. Make the check payable to the Ricky King Fund and mail it with the form to MIACC, PO Box 9887, Naples, FL 34101. The form says 100% of these donations go to the fund. The form's motto, printed under the donation line, is "For the love of kids."
If you're planning a December on Naples Bay and want to talk through what owning the dock that makes this possible looks like, Taranto Team would be glad to help. Schedule a private consultation, and we can talk through Aqualane Shores waterfront from the water side.
