The Key West Hometown Holiday Parade is on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026. The City of Key West, which posts the street-closure notice, lists it from 7 to 9 PM. keywestchristmas.org says it starts at 6:30 PM. We could not settle the start time from the sources, so we give both. The route, as keywestchristmas.org describes it, starts on Truman Avenue at White Street and runs down Duval Street to Eaton Street. This page was checked on Oct. 21, 2026. Christmas in Key West is an independent planner published by LPE Realty LLC. We are not the City of Key West, Schooner Wharf, the Historic Seaport, the Lodging Association or any venue, and we sell no tickets.
- The City of Key West calendar lists "Holiday Parade – Street Closure and City Property Event Notice" on "Saturday, December 5, 2026", "7:00 PM – 9:00 PM", contact "Dorian Patton, 305-809-3868". City of Key West: Calendar event notice
- keywestchristmas.org: "Saturday, December 5", "2026 Key West City "Hometown Holiday Parade"", "Starts at 6:30pm", "Parade starts on Truman Ave. (at White St.) then proceeds to Duval St., then down Duval St. ending at Eaton St." and "Of course Santa will make a guest appearance!" Key West "Bight" Before Christmas: keywestchristmas.org (Harbor Walk of Lights)
What time does it start?
Three sources, two answers:
| Source | Start time listed |
|---|---|
| City of Key West street-closure notice | 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM |
| Holiday Fest calendar (Lodging Association) | 7:00 PM |
| keywestchristmas.org | Starts at 6:30 PM |
Our reading: the City’s window is the official one for the street closure. If you want to be sure of seeing the start, be at your spot by 6:30 PM. Sunset on Dec. 1 is at 5:38 PM (U.S. Naval Observatory), so the parade runs after dark.
- Start time differs: keywestchristmas.org says "Starts at 6:30pm"; the City notice and the Holiday Fest calendar list 7:00 PM. The Holiday Fest calendar says the parade "kicks off at Bayview Park and travels along Truman Ave. and Duval Street". Use the City's 7 PM and say the waterfront calendar lists 6:30. City of Key West: Calendar event notice; Key West "Bight" Before Christmas: keywestchristmas.org (Harbor Walk of Lights); Key West Inns (Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and Key West): Holiday Fest Calendar
- U.S. Naval Observatory sunset times for Key West (EST): Dec. 1, 2026 5:38 pm; Dec. 12 5:40 pm; Dec. 21 5:44 pm; Dec. 25 5:46 pm; Dec. 31 5:50 pm. Civil twilight ends about 25 minutes later (Dec. 12: 6:05 pm). U.S. Naval Observatory: Sun and Moon Data for One Day (computed for 24.5551 N, 81.7800 W, Eastern Standard Time)
The route
keywestchristmas.org: “Parade starts on Truman Ave. (at White St.) then proceeds to Duval St., then down Duval St. ending at Eaton St.” The Holiday Fest calendar words it differently: the parade “kicks off at Bayview Park and travels along Truman Ave. and Duval Street”. Both name Truman Avenue and Duval Street, but neither is the City’s own route map. The City notice we read gives the date, time and a contact, not the route.
Who to call
The City notice names Dorian Patton, 305-809-3868, as the contact for the Holiday Parade street closure. Closure details, when the City posts them, will be on its event notice.
Street parade or boat parade?
Search results mix the two. They are separate events, a week apart, run by different organisers:
| Hometown Holiday Parade | Lighted Boat Parade | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 date | Saturday, Dec. 5 | Saturday, Dec. 12 |
| Where | Truman Ave. and Duval St. | Key West Bight, watched from the Harbor Walk |
| Time | City 7 PM; keywestchristmas.org 6:30 PM | Music 6 PM, parade 8 PM |
| Run by | Listed by the City of Key West | Schooner Wharf Bar |
| Watching | Free (events listing) | Free (keywestchristmas.org) |
| Our page | This page | Lighted Boat Parade 2026 |
- keywestchristmas.org lists "35th Annual Key West Lighted Boat Parade 2026" on "Saturday, December 12" with "Music at 6:00, Parade starts at 8:00pm." The listing is headed "Schooner Wharf Bar & Galley and Absolute Vodka". Key West "Bight" Before Christmas: keywestchristmas.org (Harbor Walk of Lights)
keywestchristmas.org adds one line about the street parade: “Of course Santa will make a guest appearance!”
The night before: Holiday Village and BeLighted Bike Ride
A third parade of sorts happens on Friday, Dec. 4. The City’s notice lists “Holiday Village and BeLighted Bike Ride” at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater, 21 East Quay Road, from 4 to 10 PM, with a rolling street closure for the bikes: from the Amphitheater to Southard, left on Whitehead, right on Front, right on Duval, right on United, right on Whitehead and back to the Amphitheater. The Holiday Fest calendar names Wesley House Family Services as host, lists the village from 5 to 9 PM, and says the bike ride departs at 8 PM and admission benefits Wesley House. We did not find it on a Wesley House page, so treat it as not confirmed by the organiser.
- The City of Key West calendar lists "Holiday Village & BeLighted Bike Ride – City Property Event Notice and Street Closure Notice" on "Friday, December 4, 2026", "4:00 PM – 10:00 PM", at "Coffee Butler Amphitheater", "21 East Quay Road": "There will be a rolling street closure along the parade route. Parade begins at the Amphitheater, to Southard, left on Whitehead, right on Front, right on Duval, right on United, right on Whitehead and returns to the Amphitheater." City of Key West: Calendar event notice
- The Holiday Fest calendar lists "Wesley House Family Services Holiday Village and BeLighted Bike Ride" on Dec. 4, 2026, 5:00 to 9:00 pm: "Family-friendly holiday party with Santa Claus, carnival rides, bounce houses, community booths, games, activities, performances, food vendors and snow. The BeLighted bike ride departs at 8:00pm. Admission benefits Wesley House Family Services." Key West Inns (Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and Key West): Holiday Fest Calendar
The same weekend
- Thu. Dec. 3: Pet Pictures with Santa on the Harbor Walk, 6 to 8 PM.
- Dec. 3 to 5: Sloppy Joe’s lists its End of Prohibition Celebration.
- Fri. Dec. 4: Hanukkah begins at sundown (Hebcal).
- Sun. Dec. 6: City Menorah Lighting at Bayview Park, 5 to 7 PM, and the Schooner Wharf Tree Trimming Party from 6 PM.
- Sloppy Joe's events page: "Thursday through Saturday, December 3-5, 2026", "Key West End of Prohibition Celebration". Sloppy Joe's Bar: Events
- The City of Key West calendar lists "The City's Annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony-City Property Event Notice" on "Sunday, December 6, 2026", "5:00 PM – 7:00 PM", at "Bayview Park". The Holiday Fest calendar lists the same ceremony 5:00 to 6:00 pm. City of Key West: Calendar event notice
A week earlier, on Monday, Nov. 30, the City lights its Christmas tree at Bayview Park, 6 to 8 PM. The Holiday Fest calendar says Nov. 29; the City’s own notice says Nov. 30, and we use that. Everything else is on our holiday events page and the date checker.
- The City of Key West calendar lists "The City's Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony – City Property Event Notice" on "Monday, November 30, 2026", "6:00 PM – 8:00 PM", at "Bayview Park". City of Key West: Calendar event notice
Getting there and parking
The City’s notice is a street-closure notice, and the route uses Truman Avenue and Duval Street, so plan any drive across Old Town that evening around the parade. The City’s Key West Rides on-demand service runs 6 AM to 8 PM, and the City warns that buses may be delayed by heavy seasonal traffic. A City one-way fare is $2. A note on the Duval Loop: the City’s bus fares page still lists a Duval Loop fare, but the Key West Citizen reported on Dec. 31, 2025 that the route would be suspended from Jan. 2 and replaced by Key West Rides. Do not plan around it.
- City of Key West: "Key West Rides On-Demand is an innovative form of transportation that will replace the North and South Lines". "This is a bus stop-to-bus stop service". Hours "Monday" to "Sunday 6 AM" to "8 PM", "(No service on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day)." Booking help: "305-809-3910". City of Key West: Key West Rides On-Demand Bus Service
- City of Key West Bus Fares: "Effective July 7, 2025", City "One Way" $2 full fare, "One Day Pass" $4, "7-Day Pass" $8; Keys (Lower Keys) one way $4. "One Day Super Pass Valid on City and Lower Keys Routes $ 12". Payment by "cash and credit card via Token Transit" (Key West Rides page). City of Key West: Bus Fares
- City of Key West: "The City of Key West Department of Transportation provides public transit services throughout Key West, Stock Island, and up to Marathon, Florida." Information line "305-600-1455"; "Buses may be delayed at times due to heavy seasonal traffic." City of Key West: Transportation (KWDoT)
The City’s Park N Ride Old Town garage is at 301 Grinnell Street, at Caroline Street, and the City’s garage page says payment there “grants free access to” the City bus routes for everyone in your vehicle. Lots, rates and a parking picker are on our parking page; flights, the ferry and the drive down are on getting here.
What to wear
NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals for Key West International Airport give December an average high of 77.7 F and an average low of 68.3 F. A parade after dark sits closer to the low. More on our December weather page.
- NOAA 1991-2020 normals for Key West International Airport (USW00012836), December: average high 77.7 F, average low 68.3 F, mean 73.0 F, precipitation 2.16 inches. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012836 (Key West International Airport)
Holiday Village and BeLighted Bike Ride
Dec. 4, 2026 appears on the City notice and the Holiday Fest calendar; the organiser's own page was not checked.Family holiday party with Santa, rides and food (Holiday Fest calendar), then a lighted bike parade: Amphitheater, Southard, Whitehead, Front, Duval, United, Whitehead and back (City notice).
Admission charged to benefit Wesley House Family Services; price not published Source: City of Key West: Calendar event notice, checked 2026-10-21
Key West Hometown Holiday Parade
Organiser date for 2026The City's hometown parade with floats, kids and Santa: Truman Ave. at White St., then down Duval St. to Eaton St. (keywestchristmas.org route).
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026 on the City calendar (checked 2026-10-21). Start time conflict: 7 PM (City) vs 6:30 PM (keywestchristmas.org).
Add to calendar: Google Apple / Outlook (.ics)
Free Source: City of Key West: Calendar event notice, checked 2026-10-21
Questions people ask
When is the Key West Holiday Parade in 2026?
Saturday, December 5, 2026. The City of Key West lists it from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. keywestchristmas.org says it starts at 6:30pm, so arrive before 6:30 to be safe.
What is the Holiday Parade route?
According to keywestchristmas.org, it starts on Truman Ave. at White St., turns onto Duval St., and runs down Duval to Eaton St. The City notice does not print a route.
Source: Key West "Bight" Before Christmas: keywestchristmas.org (Harbor Walk of Lights)
Is the street holiday parade the same as the boat parade?
No. The Hometown Holiday Parade is on land along Truman Ave. and Duval St. on Dec. 5, 2026. The Lighted Boat Parade is on the water at the Historic Seaport on Dec. 12, 2026.
Source: Key West "Bight" Before Christmas: keywestchristmas.org (Harbor Walk of Lights)
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Key West: Visitors