Hobe Sound Christmas Golf Cart Parades

Hobe Sound Christmas Golf Cart Parades

If you live in South Florida long enough, you start to realize two things. One, golf carts are not just transportation. They are a personality test. My bestie's kids call me EXTRA. Not sure if that's a good thing? Two, golf cart parades are taken far more seriously here than most political debates. And honestly, that is exactly how it should be.

South Florida does holiday energy better than anyone. We do sunshine, humidity and decorations that should technically violate at least three electrical guidelines. Golf cart parades are where the community gets to show off creativity, questionable engineering and a level of enthusiasm that is borderline competitive. And if you don't have a golf cart... A. What are you doing here? B. Click the golf cart image to the right and just frigging buy one already. You know you want one!

When you roll into the Hobe Sound Christmas parade or one of the Jupiter neighborhood lineups, you know half the town will be out there cheering like you just won the Super Bowl.

If you plan on participating, you need to accept one truth. Mediocre does not cut it. Go for the giant inflatable Christmas themed characters. My favorite is the Grinch, but a traditional Santa riding a T-Rex will do in a pinch. Barely decorated carts get the same reaction as showing up to a potluck with one bag of chips. The bar is high and getting higher every year. The good news is that everything you need to turn your golf cart into a rolling holiday spectacle is annoyingly easy to buy. Yes, I am talking about Amazon because nobody has time to wander around twelve stores hunting for battery powered lights that actually turn on.

Let’s talk lighting. The brighter, the better. South Florida parades happen at night, which means you need lights that can survive humidity and an audience with high expectations. Battery powered LED string lights are the go to because they avoid the messy science project of wires and inverters. This is a perfect spot to drop in an Amazon Associate link to weather resistant lights that will not die halfway down the route. If you want to take it a step further, programmable LED strips turn your cart into a mobile disco. They sync, they flash and yes, they can run on portable battery packs. Amazon has them. Toss that link in and save someone a meltdown.

Garland is the next big decision. A little garland looks cheap. A lot of garland looks festive. The trick is to commit. Wrap the roof supports. Weave it around the front bumper. Layer it. Double it. Go borderline ridiculous. You want the kind of garland coverage that says you will absolutely cut someone in line to get the last roll of ribbon. Non shedding artificial garland and extra zip ties from Amazon are your best friends for this part. Buy it in bulk, purple, gold, red, green, silver - you name it - the more you wrap that cart, the odds of you winning that first place prize increase with every strand you put on it. And why not? Competition is fun. And if you follow everything I've done to my cart, you shouldn't have any problem walking away with a life changing, gold plastic statue in your community's parade.

And now the crown jewel. LED programmable signs. These things are the difference between a cute cart and a showstopper. Imagine rolling into the parade with your cart scrolling messages like Merry Christmas Hobe Sound or Let’s Not Discuss the level of discharge on my cart's lithium battery. They are bright, hilarious and visible from a block away. Amazon carries a ton of versions, including rechargeable models that can last all evening.

Do not forget the music. A parade cart without music is like a margarita without tequila. Technically fine but emotionally disappointing. Portable Bluetooth speakers are essential and they need to be loud enough to compete with the guy three carts behind you who thinks he is the official DJ of South Florida. Install a custom Bluetooth sound system and let the neighborhood know you’ve arrived. Amazon has waterproof speakers, portable speakers, bass heavy speakers and speaker mounting kits so you are not relying on duct tape. And who can resist singing off key while blaring the South Park Christmas collection during the parade? Not me. I've got 4 of these Mr. Microphones charged and ready to go a moment's notice.

I think my best find on Amazon are the portable bluetooth speaker mounting systems. They're velcro, and tightly secure the speakers to the cart. Click on any image here to see it on Amazon.

A quick word on power. Between lights, speakers, signs and whatever inflatable snowman you zip tied to the roof, your battery is going to be working hard, that's why I use battery powered string lights and rechargeable power stations to solve this problem. And Amazon has a dozen that will keep your entire cart glowing like a holiday miracle. Nothing kills the vibe faster than a cart going dark before the judges even see you.

Once everything is attached, step back and admire your masterpiece. You are now ready for the parade. Expect smiles. Expect photos. Expect one neighbor to ask where you bought everything and pretend they will decorate next year even though they absolutely will not.

How to Break It With Style: If your cart doesn’t have at least one custom aftermarket accessory, are you even trying? Here are a few neighborhood-approved upgrades:

• Undercarriage LED kits – Choose a color to match your mood (or your outfit) this link resolves to the kit I installed on my cart in less than an hour. HINT! If you have a lithium powered cart like I do, you'll want to use a 12 volt motorcycle battery and some leads to run your lights. It will save you $200 bucks and not void your warranty. *In my case, I was worried about doing something stupid and electrocuting myself to death - so there's that unalived thing too. (these Millenials and not saying DEAD, I'll never understand their language.)*
  

• Lift kits and off-road tires – For when the beach trail is calling

• Custom seat upholstery – Tropical prints encouraged

• Storage compartments – Because someone’s bringing snacks

• Sound systems with bass – Because golf cart karaoke is a real thing now

Make your ride the envy of the HOA—just maybe keep a can of bug spray and a fire extinguisher onboard too. *This site uses affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Golf cart parades are one of the purest forms of South Florida fun. Bright lights. Big personality. Zero stress. It is community at its best, and every year they get bigger, louder and more creative. So go all in. Link the Amazon essentials. Build the cart of your dreams. Then roll into that parade like the unofficial mayor of holiday spirit.

Here is to South Florida. Home of sunshine, beachfront mornings and golf carts that can outshine a Christmas tree.

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Denise Copeland is a longtime local expert with 30+ years of experience helping buyers and sellers navigate the Martin and Palm Beach County real estate markets with confidence and ease. She's also the FOOD & DINING editor at a south Florida magazine - My Living Magazine and the Executive Editor of Coastal Pearl Living at Ocean Media, which publishes 112 community magazines and 4 luxury lifestyle magazines throughout Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee and Indian River Counties. (So yeah, there's that too. Eat some food or buy a house from me already.)

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Licensed Real Estate Professional since 1991

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ph: 561-308-0007
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