(Photo courtesy of Newport Beach and Company, and used with permission.)
Best of all, if you’d like to, you get to be a part of this! There are several companies that offer tickets to a harbor cruise as part of the parade. And as you’re sailing along, not only do you see all kinds of lighted, animated vessels, from 15 to 100 feet…
(Photo courtesy of Newport Beach and Company, and used with permission.)
…you also won’t want to miss Christmas greetings from the residents on shore. For the annual “Ring of Lights” competition, hosted by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, everybody’s decorating their homes!
(Photo courtesy of Newport Beach and Company, and used with permission.)
(Photo courtesy of Newport Beach and Company, and used with permission.)
I’ve had the pleasure of sailing aboard one of the passenger boats for three Christmases now, and my favorite part is when the boat owners start tooting their horns and calling, “Merry Christmas!” to all the surrounding boats. Tooting a horn with good wishes beats honking on the freeway, any day of the week!
(Photo courtesy of Newport Beach and Company, and used with permission.)
The 105th annual Newport Beach Boat Parade starts this Wednesday evening, December 18th, at 6:30 pm, and runs through Sunday evening, December 22nd. Parade viewing is free and maps of the parade route are available from the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. Plan to arrive early, as parking goes quickly; if you’re planning on getting tickets to the harbor-cruise passenger, get them early, as they are popular and sell out quickly.