"No route for the December 12th date." That line is in the FAQ on the Guntersville Lights on the Lake website, and it changes how the night works. This year the decorated boats won't cruise past the shoreline. They will sit tied up in and around City Harbor, and the organizers want anyone joining in to dock there and show off their lights.
If your plan for Saturday, Dec. 12 is to pick a spot along the water and wait for boats to go by, change it. The lights will come to the harbor and stay there, so you'll be walking the docks.
The Route That Went Under the Bridge
Four years ago it was a real procession. The City of Guntersville's listing for the 2022 boat parade said it was bringing back "the Christmas Boat Parade of years past." Boats met between Guntersville Marina and City Harbor at 5:30 p.m. and lined up at the harbor. At 6 p.m. they went under the big bridge and circled the lower Guntersville light, and they could continue on to the State Park.
A route like that made watching a question of geography. The boats passed any one point once, so a good view depended on where you stood along that loop.
The 2026 version drops the loop entirely. The event page still calls it the "Guntersville Christmas Boat Parade of Lights," but the boats are set up in and around City Harbor so the crowd can see them right after the Guntersville Christmas parade on December 12. In 2026, "parade" means boats staying put, lit up, along the harbor.
Why the Docks Beat the Shoreline Now
With the boats staying put, there's no single moment to catch. You can walk up to each one, look it over, and come back to your favorite. The weather doesn't put the night at risk anymore either. The FAQ says that since the boats will be docked, the event is rain or shine, and it states "No cancellation."
The crowd also plays a bigger part. Besides first, second and third place, the contest gives a People's Choice award, and the organizers tell entrants to "bring all of your friends to vote for your boat." When the boats are parked and you can walk among them, voting is easy. The site lists 2026 prizes of $500 for first, $300 for second, $200 for third and $100 for People's Choice, plus door prizes. Last year's winners list also had a "Grinch Pick," and the 2026 page hints the Grinch may show up again.
Erwin Marine Sales, Freedom Boat Club, Lake City Adventures and Skier's Marine are the 2026 sponsors.
How Saturday, Dec. 12 Runs After Dark
The boat display and the downtown parade happen at the same time for part of the evening, so plan around that. Here is the order, using the Lake Guntersville Chamber's December calendar and the Lights on the Lake rules:
- By 5 p.m. Every contest boat has to be checked in, set up and tied up in the City Harbor area.
- 5 p.m. The Guntersville Christmas Parade starts at Scott Street and Gunter Avenue and goes through downtown. The Chamber lists it for 5 to 5:30 p.m.
- Around 5:30 p.m. Judging starts on the water while the downtown parade is still finishing.
- After the parade The organizers invite everyone to City Harbor "immediately following" the city parade to see the lights.
- Around 7 to 7:30 p.m. Winners are announced, and entrants must be there to win. Entrants find out where the announcement will be when they check in.
So you can see both. Watch the floats on Gunter Avenue, then head to the harbor. By the time you get there, the boats will be lit and judging will have started, and you'll have plenty of time to walk the docks before the winners are called. The organizers also suggest showing up early for a good spot, though that advice is mainly for boats trying to get a good place to tie up.
What's at the Harbor While You Walk
City Harbor's own site describes the development as having restaurants, bars and retail shops. Several tenants have recent signs of being open.
- Kilwins opened at City Harbor in December 2024 in the space The Wake Eatery used to occupy, according to the Advertiser-Gleam. On a December night by the water, a treat from Kilwins is the obvious stop.
- Levi's on the Lake was the City Harbor venue for a Chamber-listed event in November 2025.
- Home Re-Decor is hosting its 5th Annual Christmas on the Dock on Nov. 6 and 7, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days.
- Home2 Suites by Hilton, at 2577 Paddle Wheel Drive, is about a tenth of a mile from the City Harbor shops and restaurants, according to Hilton. That's useful if family is in town for the weekend.
Another Broken Egg Cafe is also at City Harbor, at 2469 Paddlewheel Drive, but it serves from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day. It won't be open during the boat lights. It does fit the morning, though.
Filling the Morning Before the Lights
Dec. 12 starts on the water too. The Lodge at Lake Guntersville State Park is offering a free photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. that Saturday. Here's one way to plan the day: breakfast at City Harbor, Santa at the Lodge, a break at home in the afternoon, then back to Gunter Avenue for the 5 p.m. parade and the harbor afterward. The Lodge is where the 2022 boat route could end. In 2026 it's the first stop of the day.
A Decorated Boat Gets Two Nights in December
For boat owners, the strings of lights don't have to come down after one evening. On Sunday, Dec. 6, six days before Lights on the Lake, North Alabama Sailing Marina at 100 Brown Creek Road is holding its Christmas Boat Lighting Contest and Customer Appreciation Dinner. Dinner is at 5 p.m., the contest is at 5:30, and prizes go to first, second and third place. It's the marina's own event, tied to a dinner for its customers, so check with the marina before you count on entering.
Both contests are judged around 5:30 p.m. on weekend evenings six days apart. A boat set up for Brown Creek on Dec. 6 is already ready for City Harbor on Dec. 12.
Entering Lights on the Lake costs nothing. The organizers ask only that you register on their website with your name, contact number, boat name and boat length, and they welcome boats of every type and size. Entries must be family friendly. If you'd like a 2026 Lights on the Lake T-shirt, short sleeves are $25 for S through XL and $30 for 2X through 4X, and orders are due by Nov. 13. You can pick yours up on the night of the event.
If your entry belongs on land, the Chamber says Christmas Parade applications will be available Nov. 2. You can pick one up at the Chamber office at 200 Gunter Avenue or download it from lakeguntersville.org. There's no fee, but you have to apply.
The Rest of the December Run-Up
The weeks around Dec. 12 have their own holiday events, many of them downtown or at the harbor:
- Dec. 4 and 5, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Lake Guntersville Merchants Association's Night Before Christmas runs through downtown and City Harbor. Friday is a sip-and-shop with participating merchants. Saturday has free kids' activities and a vendor and food truck market.
- Dec. 5, 2 p.m. Local artist Courtney Kinneman leads Handmade Holiday at the Lodge at Lake Guntersville State Park, a workshop for making nature-themed gift tags and holiday cards. Pre-registration is required.
- Dec. 6 The Guntersville Ladies Civitan Club's 2026 Tour of Homes & Merry Marketplace is on the same day as the Brown Creek boat contest. Times and location are still to be announced.
- Dec. 17 through 20 Big Band Swingin' Christmas plays at The Whole Backstage Theatre, and tickets go on sale Oct. 28.
Night Before Christmas brings its Saturday market to City Harbor and downtown on Dec. 5, and Lights on the Lake fills the harbor with boats the following Saturday.
If you want a lake home with a dock you can light up for the parade, or you're wondering what your waterfront place is worth before the holidays, I'd be glad to help. Jeri Franks works with lake buyers and sellers across Guntersville. Let's Connect.
