Fort Lauderdale's Winterfest Boat Parade, officially the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, is scheduled for Saturday, December 12, 2026, according to the official parade site. A pre-show of non-motorized vessels starts at 5:30 PM, and the parade itself at 6 PM. The organizers note that dates can change without notice, so check winterfestparade.com before you make plans.
The route and where to watch
The parade starts at Stranahan House on the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale, heads east along the river and then turns north up the Intracoastal Waterway to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach, about 12 miles in all. The organizers say it takes roughly two and a half hours to watch from one spot. The ticketed Parade Viewing Area is at Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park, 80 Las Olas Circle, where gates open at 4 PM and the boats are expected around 6:30 PM. The Las Olas Bridge stays raised for the boats during the parade, so if you're heading to the viewing area, be on the east side of the bridge by 6 PM.
Who's in town that weekend
Parade weekend brings boaters, families and visitors to the waterfront, and December is a popular time for winter visitors from Canada, Europe and Latin America to be in South Florida. If you're one of them, a little cash in US dollars makes the weekend simpler: parking near the route, a snack from a vendor, a tip for the valet or the boat crew.
Turn your foreign currency into dollars
If you arrived with Canadian dollars, euros, pounds or pesos, our Coral Ridge Mall store buys them and pays you in US dollars in cash, counted in front of you, with a receipt. Check today's rate to sell Canadian dollars or sell euros before you come, or walk in during opening hours, subject to the currency and amount available that day. We buy more than 70 currencies, and selling foreign currency works the same way for all of them.
Traveling after the holidays? Buy your currency here
If the parade is your last big night before a trip abroad, you can buy foreign currency at the same counter. Winter visitors often pick up Canadian dollars for the trip home, and travelers spending the holidays in Europe need euros. Landing with cash in your wallet means you don't have to look for an ATM, or pay its fees, the moment you arrive.
Reserve online, pick up at Coral Ridge Mall
Use the quoter on our home page to choose the currency and the amount; you see today's rate and the total in dollars before you commit. Place the order and your rate is held for 24 hours. Pickup at the store is free: bring the photo ID you used on the order and we count the cash in front of you and give you a receipt.
- Pay by ACH bank transfer, with your order number as the reference, or in cash when you pick up. Bank transfers can take up to 24 hours to be validated.
- Orders placed after 5 PM Eastern Time are processed the next business day, so for a weekend pickup, order a day or two ahead.
- The processing fee is shown at checkout, before you place the order.
- If a currency or an amount isn't in stock, we source it as a special order, which takes a few business days.
- Rather not make the trip? FedEx delivers to Florida addresses only.
Plan your pickup around the parade
Our store is inside Coral Ridge Mall, 3200 N Federal Hwy, on US-1 a short drive from Las Olas Boulevard, and the parade passes to the east along the Intracoastal on its way north to Pompano Beach. The store is open from 11 AM to 7 PM and the parade starts at 6 PM, so on Saturday the easiest plan is to pick up your cash earlier in the day, before you head to your viewing spot.
Before you go, see Fort Lauderdale hours, directions to Coral Ridge Mall and our page for visitors near Las Olas. In Miami the weekend before for Art Basel? Read our Art Basel Miami Beach 2026 guide; our Bayside Marketplace kiosk is open from 9 AM to 8 PM.
Found a better rate somewhere else?
If another currency exchange or bank in South Florida quotes you a better rate for the same currency and amount, show us the written quote before you complete your order and we'll match it or beat it. The conditions are in our FAQ.
Parade-weekend checklist
- Confirm the date, times and viewing options on winterfestparade.com.
- Check today's rate in the quoter and reserve a day or two ahead.
- Pick up at Coral Ridge Mall between 11 AM and 7 PM, before the parade starts.