Light Parade Launches Holiday Season in Jacksonville, Florida

Fireworks erupt from three barges over the St. Johns River after the Jacksonville Light Parade. Photo credit: David Muenker

The Jacksonville Light Parade, which kicks off the holiday season here, turned Jacksonville Landing and the entire downtown riverfront into a magical place.

I’ve always wanted to see a holiday boat parade and finally got my chance. About 40 minutes before the parade was scheduled to start, David and I got downtown, parked our car in a free space, and found a spot to stand just one row back from the riverfront railing.

During the next 90 minutes, some 50 private and commercial boats bedecked with holiday lights plied the water of the St. Johns River. The colorful floats ranged from traditional holiday scenes to whimsical creations. We joined the crowd in loudly cheering and applauding the most inventive ones. Dolphins leapt through the air on one float. An angel floated above the river on another.  My favorites were the green, winged dragon that spewed fire – and the baby dragon that playfully followed it.

A boat turns into a winged dragon in the Jacksonville Light Parade. -- Photo credit: David Muenker

The floats paraded the river circuit twice, making it possible to focus on their details and narrow down our favorites to describe later to our RV neighbors.  Music poured from speakers around the Christmas tree on the Jacksonville Landing terrace. Each song took on its own distinct beauty as the tree lights flashed and changed colors with the musical notes.

After the parade, three barges were put in place to launch fireworks above the Acosta Bridge, Main Bridge and Metropolitan Park.  And then the spectacular light show boomed and blossomed in the skies, enriched with the reflection of the multicolored fireworks in the river.  I found my eyes jumping back and forth from one bridge to another until I settled on one area to focus on.  The fireworks felt almost close enough to touch.

Toward the end of the show, Jacksonville’s signature fireworks, “the waterfalls,” cascaded from the Acosta and Main bridges. Their pearly white, brilliant light took my breath away. And then, all too soon, it seemed, the sky erupted with the awesome grand finale.

I’ve seen a lot of spectacular fireworks displays on my travels, but I have to hand it to Jacksonville. Their fireworks extravaganza was the best yet!