The Wharf doesn’t just deck the halls. It decks the ice rink, the piers, the Washington Channel, and all of Wharf Street to herald the arrival of the holiday season.
On Saturday, December 6, The Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf returns for its 33rd year. The mile-long aquatic pageant features more than 60 festively decorated vessels that spread holiday cheer along the channel.
The boat parade begins at 7 pm and concludes with a flourish of fireworks in the dark winter sky above. But plan to arrive a few hours early to explore and enjoy family-friendly activities up and down Wharf Street.
Start the evening with ornament decorating and games at the Kids Zone in M Street Landing, create a stocking for your pets, then write a letter to Santa before snagging a photo with the big man himself in The Grove.
For the kids who need an extra incentive to pose for pictures, try bartering a few smiles in exchange for ooey, gooey s’mores at The Wharf.
The Camp Wharf Firepit and S’mores Trailer has turned into the Caps Campfire for the season! Decked out in Washington Capitals décor, the vintage Airstream trailer offers hot apple cider and all the essentials for the perfect s’more—marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, roasting sticks, and a cozy wood-burning fire.
Camp Wharf is just around the corner from The Wharf Ice Rink. Whether you glide over the ice with the grace of a swan or the sprawled limbs of a newborn giraffe, there’s nothing like skating in the glow of DC’s iconic monuments and The Wharf’s twinkling lights.
(Insider tip: if you don’t make it to the rink early, lace up your skates another night. Instead, be sure to secure a good viewing spot for the parade and fireworks. The rink will remain open for the season until February 22, 2026, but the Holiday Boat Parade is one night only.)
Just a few steps down Wharf Street, District Pier gets the party rolling with headliner My Hero Zero and guest emcee Tommy McFly plus a 45- foot nautical themed Wharf Christmas tree and a cheer garden serving up cold beers and hot toddies.
Belt out your favorite holiday carols at the karaoke mic near Recreation Pier, pose with the Gingerbread man while you crunch on holiday cookies, and snag a selfie at the photo booth.
Don’t miss live music on the Transit Pier stage, festive giveaways at the Pearl Street Stage, and a pop-up holiday shop in Market Square featuring DC makers curated by Shop Made in DC.
After the 8 pm fireworks display, My Hero Zero returns to the stage for an after party on District Pier. With something for everyone, The Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf is the perfect place to kick off the holiday season.
At the end of the parade route, the 40-foot the one-of-a-kind Jack Daniel’s/Washington Capitals collaboration barrel tree in Blair Circle looms large.
This year, the Caps have partnered with Jack Daniels to support Operation Ride Home, a program dedicated to reuniting junior military members with their families.
For more than three decades, The Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf has brought joy to The Wharf. Thanks to this partnership, every donation made at the barrel tree will help spread holiday cheer far beyond this magical little corner of our city.
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The Holiday Boat Parade & Party is FREE for spectators; no tickets are needed to enjoy the festivities on the piers or along Wharf Street. Check out The Wharf’s “Things to Do” for the full complement of winter activities.
