Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade Sails Into Milestone 110th Year

14-Mile Floating Festival of Christmas Lights and Decorations Returns to SoCal Yacht Town

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Sep 14, 2018, 06:00 ET

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating its 110^th year, the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade will take place Dec. 19-23. One of the longest-running holiday traditions in the country, the parade has been hailed by The New York Times as one of the nation's top ten holiday happenings and earning Newport Beach the rank of "#2 City in the Nation for Holiday Lights" by Yahoo! Travel. Home to the world's largest small-yacht harbor, Newport Beach pays homage to its iconic boating culture through a fleet of wonderfully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks and canoes motoring along a 14-mile course.

110th Annual Christmas Boat Parade Sails into Newport Beach, CA, Dec. 19-23,2018.

Hosted by The Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, the boat parade draws millions of people annually and has become a cherished tradition for residents and visitors alike. For five consecutive nights, the parade begins at approximately 6:30 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. at the tip of Lido Isle. The parade opens with a sparkling fireworks display from the Newport Pier at 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 19. Closing out in the same spectacular fashion, there will be special fireworks show from the Balboa Pier on the final night of the parade at 9 p.m. on Dec. 23. Celebrity Grand Marshals will be announced soon.

"The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is a holiday institution," said Steve Rosansky, President and CEO of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. "From a lineup of special guests, to the two fireworks displays, and of course, the more than one million twinkling lights across our beautiful harbor, the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is five unforgettable nights of festive fun."

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade began at the turn of the century when John Scarpa, an Italian gondolier; and Joseph Beek, developer of Beacon Bay, the Balboa Ferry Line, and the principal force in the early development of Balboa Island, started the tradition of lighting boats in the harbor. Now in its 109th year, the largest harbor parade in California now features as many as 100 boats. The festively decorated yachts, dinghies and kayaks vie for the top prize in categories including Best Animation/Special Effects, Best Humor/Originality, Best Music, and Best Lights.

Serving as the backdrop for the parade is the annual "Ring of Lights." A marvel all its own, bayside homes and businesses surrounding the harbor display their Christmas spirit and compete for prizes for the best decorations.

Spectators can enjoy the festivities from a variety of public viewing locations including numerous waterfront locations including numerous restaurants and the new 10.5-acre Marina Park.

For more information about the 110^th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, please visit www.christmasboatparade.com.

About Newport Beach
Situated between Los Angeles and San Diego and nestled among golden stretches of pristine Pacific coastline, Newport Beach epitomizes the casual yet sophisticated lifestyle of Southern California. This idyllic seaside destination is widely celebrated for its natural beauty that sets the scene for a vibrant yachting community alongside stylish accommodations, eclectic coastal cuisine, and world-class shopping. Comprised of ten distinct district neighborhoods, each lend a unique culture, charm, natural beauty, and history to the city. Ranked among the "Top 10 Resort Towns in the U.S.," Newport Beach is also distinguished as one of the country's "Top 10 Best Family Beaches." For more information, please go to VisitNewportBeach.com.

SOURCE Visit Newport Beach