For South Florida boaters, this may be the brightest season of all.

Covered in holiday lights, boaters show off their frippery, finery and sense of fun via bedecked vessels sailing in holiday boat parades from Palm Beach County to Key West.

For those who watch from the sidelines, the parades are an opportunity to "oooh!" and "aaah!" at the creativity of boat owners who up the wattage on thousands of holiday lights as they bob and weave down the Intracoastal or around the Florida Keys.

If you’re not watching from your boat or waterfront backyard, you can grab a seat on the bleachers in approved viewing areas or try nabbing a coveted table in a waterfront restaurant.

Northerners have their holiday traditions, and we have ours. At least we stay warm as we connect with family and friends outdoors.

“It’s a beautiful event that everyone enjoys,” said Christopher Burdick, special events coordinator for the Boynton Beach CRA, which organizes the Boynton Beach/Delray Holiday Boat Parade.

“Unless we have some strong weather occurrence, I can’t imagine it won’t be a fabulous time,” Burdick said.

Becky Self, community events coordinator for Boca Raton, said that city’s holiday boat parade is a hit for many reasons — one of the main ones being the fireworks barge that leads the parade every year.

“If you’ve never seen fireworks off the water, with their reflection in the water, it’s spectacular,” she said. “It’s very different from Fourth of July fireworks.”

Self said Boca is expecting about 35 boats to take part in its 39th annual parade.

The Boca parade is open to sail and motorboats, although sailboats should be under motor power in the ICW during the parade.

“It’s a nice event,” Self said. “We have a free awards banquet for the parade boaters at the Waterstone Resort and Marina, and we have thousands of dollars in prize money for those who win in the various categories.”

The city of Boca Raton comes up with the prize money to show appreciation to boaters, Self said, “because without them, this wouldn't be possible.” “Some of them go all out. It’s amazing what people can do to their boats when they decorate them. We’ve always had some real crowd-pleasers.”

In Key West, the Schooner Wharf Bar & Galley/Absolut Lighted Boat Parade kicks off in typical high spirits at 8 p.m. Dec. 12.

Event organizer, and Schooner Wharf co-owner Evalena Worthington, said the boat parade is a “truly magical night. We have vessels of all shapes and sizes, from kayaks to schooners decked out in a dazzling display of lights and amazing creativity. It’s a holiday tradition with a unique Key West maritime spirit.”

The entry deadline is Dec. 10, and there is a $25 fee for all boaters who wish to participate.

A captains’ meeting for all captains and crew taking part in the parade takes place 8 p.m. Dec. 11 at Schooner Wharf. There, the maritime parade route will be reviewed while complimentary drinks and hors d’oeurves will be enjoyed.

The captains’ meeting for the Boynton Beach/Delray boat parade is 7 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the Banana Boat restaurant at Boynton Beach Harbor Marina. Some captains wait until then to bring their applications for the boat parade, Burdick said.

“We talk about boat safety and the parade routes and we give out a gift bag to the captains. I speak for the Boynton part of the parade and someone from Delray will talk about their part. And maybe we’ll have someone from the Coast Guard Auxiliary there to address safety,” Burdick said.

Little things change every year — for example, the theme of the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade this year is Fairy Tales Afloat.

In the end, the real theme of South Florida’s boat parades is tradition, for the parades stay the course. Here is a partial list of upcoming events:

Boca Raton Boat Parade; 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19.
About 35 boats will light the night from the C-15 Canal at the Boca/Delray boarder south to the Hillsborough Boulevard bridge. Viewing areas are at Red Reef Park, 1400 N.Ocean Blvd., and Silver Palm Park, 600 E. Palmetto Park Road. Drop off a new, unwrapped children’s gift for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program at Boca Raton Community Center, 150 Crawford Blvd. Visit www.myboca.us then click on Special Events, or call 561-367-7073.

Boynton Beach/Delray Holiday Boat Parade: entertainment at 5:30 p.m.; boat parade 7 p.m., Friday, Dec.11.
The annual parade, sponsored by the Boynton Beach CRA, begins just south of the Ocean Avenue bridge in Lantana, winds south along the Intracoastal through Boynton Beach to the C-14 Canal in Delray Beach. Live music from Route Bleu will entertain parade-goers starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Boynton Beach Harbor Marina; the parade gets underway at 7 p.m. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for donation to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots collection drive. Visit www.catchboynton.com, click on "What's Happening" and then go to the boat parade. For more information, call Christopher Burdick at 561-600-9093.

Key Largo Boat Parade: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
Themed Deck the Hulls, this year’s 27th annual parade through Blackwater Sound will feature about 30 boats of all types and sizes. The best viewing spots are between mile markers 103 and 104 at Sundowners, Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill, Senor Frijoles, the Marriott Key Largo Bay Resort and Caribbean Club. Visit www.keylargoboatparade.com or call 305-394-3736.

Key West
Schooner Wharf Bar & Galley/Absolut Lighted Boat Parade: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
A tropical tribute to the holidays will set the ocean shimmering during this annual Schooner Wharf-sponsored boat parade at Key West Bight and Harbor. This tropical tribute to the holidays features dozens of decked-out vessels from kayaks to classic schooners. Expect an ocean of animated dolphins and seahorses plus plenty of holiday palm trees. Visit www.schoonerwharf.com or call 305-292-3302.

Marathon Area
Boot Key Harbor Lighted Boat Parade: 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
Expect dinghies to mega-yachts on parade through Boot Key Harbor. Ring the season in from viewing spots at Lazy Days South, Marathon Marina, Sombrero Dockside Lounge and Burdine’s Waterfront. Call 305-549-0285.

Miami Outboard Club Holiday Boat Parade: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19.
About 100 decorated, glittering boats usher in the holidays from the Intracoastal to Biscayne Bay. The best viewing spot for families is surely Bayfront Park where food trucks, bounce houses and yuletide entertainment awaits. Bring an unwrapped toy for donation to the non-profit Centro Mater Child Care Services. Call 305-376-3000.

Pompano Beach Boat Parade: 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13.
The grande dame of South Florida’s boat parades will celebrate its 53rd anniversary by setting the sky aglow with an estimated 50 vessels dressed in festive lights and holiday decorations. Boats will sail from Lake St. Barbara north on the ICW, through Lighthouse Point to the Hillsborough Boulevard bridge in Deerfield Beach. Visit www.pompanobeachchamber.com or call 954-941-2940.

Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade: 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
The Winterfest holiday boat parade is South Florida's largest with more than 100 vessels. It starts on the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale, heads east to the Intracoastal, then north to Lake Santa Barbara between Commercial and Atlantic boulevards in Pompano Beach. There’s plenty of viewing options for nearly 1 million spectators from hotel rooms downtown to seawall seats at Birch State Park and dockside tables at Shooters Waterfront Cafe along the Intracoastal. Visit www.winterfestparade.com or call 954-967-0686.