Bermuda Christmas Boat Parade

Typically held in early December, the parade draws hundreds of spectators to the Hamilton waterfront, making it a family-friendly event that attracts both locals and tourists. Participants include private boat owners, charter companies, and even commercial vessels, all competing to create the most impressive and festive displays. Awards are often given for categories such as “Best Overall,” “Most Original,” and “Best Corporate Entry.”

The route for the parade runs through Hamilton Harbour, allowing viewers to watch from vantage points along Front Street, the Hamilton Princess Hotel, and various other spots around the harbor. Spectators often come early to secure the best viewing areas and enjoy food vendors, music, and the lively atmosphere before the parade begins.

The highlight of the evening is the variety of illuminated boats, each uniquely designed. Some boats feature traditional Christmas themes, like Santa Claus, reindeer, and Christmas trees, while others opt for more whimsical or tropical designs, reflecting Bermuda’s island culture. The parade usually concludes with a fireworks display over the harbor, adding a spectacular finale to the evening.

While the Bermuda Christmas Boat Parade is generally held every other year, occasional adjustments to the schedule may occur, such as postponements due to weather or other logistical considerations. In recent years, the event has returned with renewed enthusiasm, showcasing the creativity and community spirit of Bermuda’s boating enthusiasts.

For visitors, the Bermuda Christmas Boat Parade offers a unique way to experience the island’s culture during the holiday season. Whether you’re watching from a restaurant balcony on Front Street or along the harbor’s edge with a warm drink in hand, the event provides a festive atmosphere and a memorable evening for all who attend.

To find the latest information about the Bermuda Christmas Boat Parade, including dates and event details, be sure to check the official website https://www.cityofhamilton.bm/

Our drone show is starting, the first of its kind to bring holiday cheer and captivate your mind. So get yourself cozy, peel your eyes wide, and listen to a story full of national pride.

Together, we’ll take a journey tonight.

Our tale is one you’ve not heard about a place where we live, an island bird. Meet our little longtail, his name is Curly. There’s just one problem: he’s come home too early. See, longtails don’t return until early spring, but now Curly is stuck here with an injured left wing. He must get back home, he simply can’t stay. He must return to his family for Christmas Day.

Who can he ask? That guy in the mask. His colors are bright, he moves to the beat. Look at the way he dances, his feet. “Excuse me,” said Curly, “can you help me flee? I’m stuck in Bermuda and it’s too cold for me.” “I know a guy, a guy who can fly,” said the man in the mask. “When the longtail asked, he wears a red coat and drives a big sleigh. He is the man who can take you away if you must get back. Hop in his sack.” “Thanks,” said Curly. “What’s your name anyway?” “Didn’t you know?” said the man. “I’m a Bermuda Gombey.”

Bermuda is so much more

So Curly kept going to find this man with such power. When he stumbled upon our national flower,

Then another Flora caught his eye, one on a bike zipping by. Her last name is Duffy; she’s an Olympic hero. But Curly’s chance of catching up to her was zero.

Poor Curly was shivering, he might catch a chill. When along came Olympian champion boxer Clarence Hill. “You lost, little guy?” said Clarence to the bird. “I am,” said Curly, “but maybe you’ve heard about a guy with a sleigh and a sack full of toys for all of Bermuda’s good girls and boys.”

Rising up back on the street

“I have,” said Clarence, “and I have just the ticket. But first, come join me in a fun game of cricket.” So Curley and Clarence set up the wicket and had a great time playing hours of cricket. “Hill said, ‘You should come back, Curly, this August and stay for Cup Match celebrations and Emancipation Day.’ ‘I will,’ said Curly, ‘when the season is best. But for now, I must get back to my quest.'”

So off Curly hopped, past the Bermuda Regiment troop who marched their way onto an old Bermuda Sloop. “What boat is this?” said Curly in awe. “It’s the prettiest ship that I ever saw.” “It’s a Sloop,” said a sergeant, “that’s what it’s named, for which Bermudians were globally famed. It’s a centuries-old design with triangular sails, made here on the rock where we blaze quite a trail. An island of mariners, boat makers, and sailors, privateers, and boat captains, and even some whalers.”

Big ship sailing on the ocean

Then all of a sudden, a sound in the sky. Curley looked up, and a seaplane flew by. “Is that the guy with the sleigh?” Curly asked hopefully. “No,” said the sergeant, “that’s a plane for the sea, doing wartime missions and getting passengers here fast. It’s all a big part of Bermuda’s Maritime past.”

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas

Now something else in the sky, said Curly with a cry. “What is it? I don’t know. Could it be snow?”

Where the treetops glisten and children listen.

Snow in Bermuda? Said Lizzy the Lizard. “Next thing you’ll know, there’ll be a big blizzard.” The snow kept on snowing, and Curly put on a sweater. Lizzy was calling out to him now. He better go get her.

Frosty the Snowman was a jolly, happy soul with a corncob pipe and a button nose, and two eyes made out of coal. Frosty the Snowman is a fairy tale, they say. He was made of snow. But the children

“Come, Build a Snowman with me,” said Lizzy with glee. “We’ll put a hat on his head and call him Frosty.”

That old silk hat they found, for when they placed it on his head, he began to dance around. Oh, Frosty the Snowman!

Then out in the harbor, there came a ho-ho-ho. What could it be? Does anyone know?

Santa. Tell me if you’re really there. don’t make me fall in love again

If it was Santa surfing, trying out the new board he just bought, and sporting a pair of national pink shorts.

Give it all away, you won’t be here next year. Feeling Christmas all around and you trying to play cool, but it’s hard to fuss when I see him walking cross the room. Let it snow is blasting now, but I won’t get in the mood. I’m avoiding every mistletoe until I know it’s true

That’s the guy that I need, said Curly with glee. The guy with the sleigh I’ve been looking all day. “Please, sir,” Curly said with a yell, “I think I need a little help. I’ve been told you’re the guy to see for a ride. Please, may I come and sit down inside?” “Of course,” said the man with a jolly outburst. “But there’s one thing I have to do first. These presents here, all stacked up, you see, I need to put them under some trees.”

“There’s one right there,” Curly said with a stare. The man smiled and said very calm, “These ones, Curly, are a kind of palm. They’re not the ones I’m trying to find. I’m looking for an evergreen kind, inside houses, that’s where they stand. Come with me, take my hand.”

So the man showed Curly the trees that he needed to drop off. When they were done, the man said with a smile, “Sorry that kind of took a while. So many good children and gifts. Have some pumpkin pie, and we’ll do something you will get a kick out of.”

“Let’s get you home, Curly, to your family to be had.” And off they flew, not a moment too soon. The shape of a sleigh, going past the moon. Oh, the mistletoe is hung where you can see. Some for me, a Christmas tree.

I hope you enjoyed your time with me. Merry Christmas to all from HSBC. Christmas tree, I just want to wish for my own more than you could wish. And the city, all I want for Christmas is you. Yeah, I don’t want a lot for Christmas.

Make some noise for the city of Hamilton. Also, thank you so much to HSBC, the title sponsor of this entire event. Thank you, HSBC, for making this possible.

Just letting you know that this was written by the city’s PR manager, Helen Zona. She actually wrote this, and the voice that you heard was Bermudian actress Lana Young.

Baby, it’s a cold Christmas night. All right, guys, if you enjoyed the drone show, I want to hear you make some noise. If you enjoyed the drone show, thank you so much to HSBC, the title sponsor. Also, thank you to the city of Hamilton for making this possible. Once again, that was voiced by Bermudian actress Lana Young, and it was written by the city’s own public relations manager, Helen Zona.