Government will rake in thousands of dollars but little Christmas cheer after the Boat Parade was hit by a massive parking ticket offensive.

Merrymakers are furious that literally dozens of cars were hit with the $50 fines as they flocked to the Hamilton Harbour shoreline to catch a glimpse of the festive event.

Vehicles parked on whole stretches of Harbour Road and Pitts Bay Road were hit by Police officers, who were out in force to deal with the traffic headaches caused by an event that attracted nearly half the Island's inhabitants.

"It is very mean spirited to deliberately target an event like this," said one disgruntled spectator, whose car was ticketed just 100 yards from the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

"To do this to so many people at this time of year is just not right. This is the season for giving, but a lot of us have now been lumbered with a Christmas gift that we just do not want."

A Police spokesman said it would be "inappropriate to comment at this time".