Panama City Christmas parade and tree lighting 2026

Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. This page is updated each year. Sources: the City of Panama City’s parade announcement and Destination Panama City’s Boat Parade of Lights page and holiday releases of Nov. 19, 2024 and Nov. 1, 2025.

Panama City’s two big December traditions are set for 2026: the city’s Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 5, and the Boat Parade of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 12. The downtown and St. Andrews tree lightings had not been announced for 2026 when we checked; below is what happened last year and the year before, and we will update this page when the dates are out.

Who to call

• Christmas parade: City of Panama City Parks, Culture and Recreation, through City Hall, 850-872-3000
• Boat Parade of Lights and holiday events: Destination Panama City, 850-215-1700
• Enter the parade: Christmas Parade Application, through Nov. 15

Christmas parade: Saturday, Dec. 5, 6 p.m.

The Panama City Christmas Parade steps off at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026. This year’s theme is “Christmas Movies.”

Route: the parade starts at the Downtown Panama City Marina, 1 Harrison Ave., travels north on Harrison Avenue through historic downtown and ends at Tommy Oliver Stadium, at Harrison Avenue and 13th Street. Entries stage at the marina. That is the reverse of 2024, when the parade ran south from 13th Street to Sixth Street.

Enter the parade: registration runs Sept. 1 to Nov. 15. Nonprofits enter free; walking groups pay $25, and floats and vehicles $75 (up to five vehicles per registration). Apply with the city’s online application; approved entrants get a payment link and a short Zoom meeting before parade day.

The city had not posted road closures or parking details for 2026 when we checked; we will add them here and on our road construction and closures page when they are out.

Boat Parade of Lights: Saturday, Dec. 12

The 40th Annual Boat Parade of Lights, from Destination Panama City and the city, is Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026:

• Holiday Village, Panama City Marina: 4 to 7 p.m., with holiday vendors, music and a visit from Santa.
• Drone show, Downtown Panama City Marina: 5 p.m.
• Boat parade: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Lighted boats leave the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club and head west along the shore past downtown, the Panama City Marina, West Beach Drive, the St. Andrews Marina, historic St. Andrews and Sun Harbor Marina, ending at the Hathaway Bridge.

Watch from the shoreline, the Panama City Marina or the St. Andrews Marina. The public votes on the best-decorated boat.

Tree lightings: what happened in past years

Destination Panama City’s releases describe two tree lightings:

• Historic St. Andrews: in 2024, the tree at Oaks by the Bay Park was lit at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, the day after Thanksgiving, with a carol sing-along.
• Downtown: in 2024, the downtown tree was lit at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Panama City Center for the Arts, 19 E. Fourth St., with the Bay High School Choir, a holiday bazaar, a free screening of “The Polar Express” in McKenzie Park and a visit from Santa. In 2025 the tourism agency said the downtown lighting would again be at the Center for the Arts, with a light display choreographed to music.

Getting between the holiday events

The free Jingle Bell Express shuttle has linked downtown and historic St. Andrews in recent Decembers. In 2024 it ran 5 to 9 p.m. on the first three Friday and Saturday nights of December; Destination Panama City said it would return in 2025. Check its event page for 2026 dates and stops.

What this means for you

• Parade night is Saturday, Dec. 5; the route now runs north from the marina.
• The boat parade is the following Saturday; get to the marina early for the drone show.
• Want to march or build a float? Apply by Nov. 15.

Related: holiday lights and Christmas events, things to do this month, getting around and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Panama City Christmas parade in 2026?

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, at 6 p.m. This year’s theme is Christmas Movies. The parade starts at the Downtown Panama City Marina, 1 Harrison Ave., and travels north on Harrison Avenue to Tommy Oliver Stadium at 13th Street.

How do I enter the Panama City Christmas parade?

Apply through the city’s online parade application between Sept. 1 and Nov. 15. Nonprofits enter free; walking groups pay $25, and floats and vehicles $75.

When is the Boat Parade of Lights in Panama City?

Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., from the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club west to the Hathaway Bridge. A Holiday Village runs 4 to 7 p.m. at the Panama City Marina, with a drone show at 5 p.m.

When is the downtown Panama City Christmas tree lighting?

The 2026 date is not out yet. In 2024 the downtown tree was lit at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Panama City Center for the Arts, and the St. Andrews tree at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 at Oaks by the Bay Park.