After a five-year hiatus, the Holiday Lighted Christmas Boat Parade was held again in San Pedro Town on Saturday, December 14th. The event was revived by islanders Elito Arceo and Karen Canul, along with the San Pedro Tour Operators Association and Seaduced by Belize. This creative and colorful event was considered one of the best. The participating boats lined the eastern coast of San Pedro, illuminating the area with dazzling lights. Visitors and residents enjoyed the traditional event, which had been absent since 2019. The highly anticipated spectacle raised the bar for highlighting the Christmas spirit and concluded with a fantastic fireworks show in front of Central Park.
December is a festive month in San Pedro, and the lighted boat parade has been on everyone’s minds since it took a break five years ago. Organizing this event requires significant time and finances, and this year, the organizers received support from Area Representative Honourable Andre Perez, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, the San Pedro Town Council, My Lights, and the Belize Tourism Board. With 30 boats participating, the beaches and docks were crowded with spectators eager to capture the perfect photo. Although it rained for about an hour before the show began, the weather cleared just in time for the parade. Each boat was uniquely decorated with Christmas themes, including jolly Santa Claus, reindeer, floating Christmas trees, the popular snowman, and even a polar bear design. The coastline lit up with the year’s spectacle, creating a beautiful glow along the parade route.
This year’s holiday-lighted boat parade was different; it did not crown any winners. One of the organizers, Arceo, explained that the focus was on celebrating the holiday season rather than competing. “Christmas is a time to come together and share the spirit of joy and peace,” he stated. Arceo believed that eliminating the competitive aspect of the event would foster a greater sense of community and allow everyone to celebrate the Christmas season in style, reviving this beloved island tradition.
The colorful boat parade began after sunset, with participating boats lining up in front of Central Park before heading south. Many gathered on the beach to witness this exciting event. As the illuminated boats moved south past the Alaia Hotel, they made a U-turn and headed back north. They then passed by Grand Caribe again, making another U-turn to conclude the lighted boat show where it had started. The beaches and establishments near Central Park were filled with onlookers who cheered for the boats, enjoyed live music, and admired the dazzling display of thousands of stunning lights.
To everyone’s surprise, a fireworks display lit up the night sky, delighting those gathered at the coast’s beaches. Laughter and smiles were abundant as families praised the participants, agreeing that it was one of the best-lighted boat parades the island had ever seen.
This annual Christmas event has been a local tradition since 2006, marking the beginning of the festive season. As it gained popularity, it positively impacted the tourism industry, with many visitors planning their trips during this time of year to witness the boat show. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2019, the event went dormant until this year.
Organizers thanked all participating boats and partners who contributed to the event’s success. They are eager to host it again in 2025, anticipating more participants and extraordinary surprises.
