Register Here for the Parade!

Cape Cod Maritime Museum and the Greater Hyannis Civic Association are once again sponsoring the Holiday Boat Parade! We hope you will join us for this years' festivities. 

Make your holidays brighter by being a part of an exciting Cape Cod tradition and register you and your boat for the 2026 Hyannis Holiday Boat Parade!! Decorate your boat and help light up the Harbor for spectators as they wait for Santa to arrive in our parade. 

Saturday, December 5, 2026

Rain date: Sunday, December 6th

Click Here to Register!

Parade Information

Boats will meet up next to the channel off the Hyannis Yacht Club pier. They will then proceed into the inner harbor, led by the Harbor Master or police boat. The Hyannis fire boat, carrying Santa, will form the end of the procession. 

  • Staging for the parade will begin promptly at 4:15pm, December 5th between the green channel marker 15 and the Hyannis Yacht Club Dock. Participants will be led in by a Parade Marshal by 4:30pm, starting with vessels over 30’ and followed by vessels 30’ and under.

  • All participants please monitor VHF Ch. 13 at all times from staging area until parade is concluded for directions and safety information.

  • The parade will make at least one pass through the inner harbor, possibly making a second depending on ferry traffic. 

  • Please keep 50 feet behind the boater in front of you! In case there is a need to pause for the ferries, boaters will need space to come to a stop and hold their positions.

Decorate your boat with lights, music, blow-up decorations, etc.! Just remember not to litter, and keep our ocean clean and safe.

There will be two prizes for the most festive boats in each category: 30’ and over, and under 30' Winners will be announced near the Bismore park shanties, and will be contacted by email following the parade. 

FAQs

Don’t see your question here? Reach out to boatparade@capecodmaritimemuseum.org

  • Staging for the parade will begin at 4:15pm December 5th between the green channel marker 15 and the Hyannis Yacht Club Dock. Participants will be led in by a Parade Marshal by 4:30pm starting with vessels over 30’ and followed by vessels 30’ and under. 

    Please make sure to be on time and stay alert for instructions from the Parade Marshals.

  • At the top of this page there is a big orange button labeled “Click Here to Register!" This will bring you to a form for registration.

  • No, participation in the parade is free! Participants are encouraged to make a donation to support the Cape Cod Maritime Museum.

  • Yes! We will be doing numbers this year. On the Registration Form please mark which location you would like to pick up a registration number ahead of the parade.

    Please make sure your boat name and registration number is visible so the judges can identify you. And make sure to decorate!

  • There will be two judging categories, and two prizes in each for the most festive boats in the parade. The two categories are by vessel size: up to 30 feet, and 30 ft and above.

    Winners will be announced to the spectators at Bismore park, and on social media, and the Winners will be contacted by email to pick up their prizes during the week following the parade.