Fort Lauderdale Boat Parade 2025

Fort Lauderdale’s waterways turned into a moving ribbon of holiday lights for the 2025 Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, and Shake-A-Leg Miami was proud to be part of it.

There’s something different about Winterfest when you’re not just watching from the shoreline, but actually out there in the flow of it. The energy is loud in the best way, the crowd feels endless, the boats are glowing from every angle, and the whole city turns the Intracoastal into a celebration. It’s not just a parade, it’s a full-on South Florida tradition.

This year, what made it even more special for us was bringing one of our most recognizable vessels into the spotlight: the Shake-A-Leg accessible houseboat painted by Romero Britto.

If you’ve ever seen it up close, you know it doesn’t “blend in.” It’s bright, bold, unapologetically joyful, and built to make people smile. That’s exactly why we love sharing it at events like this. The Britto Houseboat isn’t just about looking incredible, it represents what Shake-A-Leg is all about, access to the water, inclusion by design, and experiences that restore confidence, connection, and independence for people of all abilities.

Being in the parade gave us a chance to show that mission in the most visible way possible, right in the middle of one of the largest community gatherings on the water. We loved participating, we loved representing our community, and we loved seeing how many people lit up when they spotted the Britto boat coming through the route.

And the truth is, that moment matters. When people see accessible boating in action, not as an exception but as something celebrated, it changes what they believe is possible.

To our crew, volunteers, supporters, and everyone who helped us show up strong, thank you. And to Romero Britto and everyone who helped bring this boat to life, thank you for helping create something that carries both beauty and meaning.

If you saw us out there and wondered what Shake-A-Leg Miami does beyond parade night, we’d love to welcome you in. You can volunteer with us, support our accessible fleet and programs, or join us for a day on the water, because the water changes lives, and access should never be the thing that decides who gets to experience it.

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