Christmas in California
Christmas Boat Parades in California Information
With 1,000 miles of Pacific Ocean and much more inland lake, delta and river frontage, California is the capital of Christmas boat parade celebrating.
The holiday tradition of lighting up your vessel with decorations and lights doesn't span just the decades, but is a 100 year tradition. Newport Beach is credited with having one of the oldest Christmas Boat Parades that launched in the early 1900s.
Bethel Island Lighted Boat Parade
Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights
Discovery Bay
Parade of Lights
The Lighted Boat Parade heads toward
Bays of Discovery
Huntington Beach Christmas Boat Parade
LA
Christmas Boat Parade (San Pedro) LA Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade
Long Beach Parade of 1,000 Lights shorelineyachtclub.com
Marina Del Rey Holiday Boat Parade
Morro Bay Christmas Boat Parade
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade christmasboatparade.com
Oakland Lighted
Yacht Parade
Cartoon Christmas!
lightedyachtparade.com
Oceanside Parade of Lights Boat Parade Parade of Lights & Holiday Craft Fair hosted by OYC - harbor boat parade of holiday lights. Contests held for best decorated power, sail and small craft oceansideyc.com
Petaluma Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
Redondo Beach King Harbor
Christmas Boat
Parade is sponsored by King Harbor Yacht Club. khyc.org
San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Lights & Sights Boat Parade
Santa Barbara Parade of Lights Parade of Lights City of SB, Waterfront Dept. East Beach, West Beach and Stearns Wharf (805) 897-1962 Boats will dress up in colored lights for the 24th annual boat parade through the waterfront. Visit Santa and his village before the parade and enjoy fireworks after the parade. 2011 Parade of Lights Date: December 11, 2011 Time: 3:00 PM Location: Santa Barbara Harbor Admission: Free Phone: (805) 897-1962 Email: bslagle@SantaBarbaraCA.gov Description: The 26th Annual Parade of Lights will take place on Sunday, December 11th. Festivities begin with a Santa's Village event at 3:00 p.m. on the City Pier. There will be a visit from Santa, and he's bringing tons of snow for children to play in, plus holiday music. A cannon firing on Stearns Wharf will start the parade at 5:30 p.m. Join us with distinguished judges and other spectators as we cheer on 30-50 boaters parading along the the Santa Barbara coastline." A short fireworks display will follow the boat parade followed in turn by an awards ceremony and after-party (place to be determined). More Info: santabarbaraca.gov
Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade & Fireworks
Stockton Delta Reflections Lighted Boat Parade
Delta Reflections
Lighted Boat Parade
Holiday: Christmas lights adorn boats and
yachts as they sail into the downtown
Stockton Waterfront! The lighted boat parade
starts at 5pm around Buckley Cove (Near
Light 36) and should be in Downtown Stockton
by 6pm.
Fee: Free Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Phone
Number: 209-477-7653
Ventura Parade of Lights Boat Parade
islandpackers.com
Holiday Caroling Cruise and Parade of Lights Cruise Ride and sing with Island Packers aboard the Island Adventure catamaran departing from 1691 Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor. Enjoy the harbor lights and the decorated boats in the marinas and Harbor Village while singing holiday songs with the crew and passengers.
Venice Canals Holiday Boat Parade
Join all the fun at the Venice Canals as this creative mirror-image of Italy expresses its holiday spirit with a brilliantly lit display of small boats, canoes, kayaks and costumes. 4 p.m. From Admiralty Way, turn right on Via Marina, then left onto Washington Boulevard. Go 1/4 mile, turn right onto Dell Ave. Park, then walk toward the beautiful holiday lights!
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Continuing to be one of the top Christmas celebration tourist draws, the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade touts around one million visitors just over a one-week event. Colorful, festive fun, the boat parades are pure holiday magic! Lighted boats navigate the channels among decorated homes, restaurants and shops, and provide vantage points for onlookers from dry docks. Some boat parades offer rides, as well.
One of the best ways and companies providing holiday boat magic is Hornblower Cruises and Events. They have yachts in the major harbors--San Diego, Newport Beach, Marina del Rey and San Francisco.
Boat and yacht owners participating in the lighted parades can spend large sums to decorate their vessels with lavish designs. We've seen TV monitors, top notch bands, Santa on board with cute elves in little red skirts, and event designs to mimic an entire city skylight. Money and the imagination limit what can be done on these power hungry ventures that often require extra voltage for the venture.
Whatever your passion, you won't want to miss this special time of year in California, when the boats are extra lively & bright!
Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.