“One hundred seventeen years!” enthuses Greg Sinks, general manager of CRC Marinas, marveling at the longevity of the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. “It is fantastic to see something with that kind of run.” Why is it so popular? “It’s the movement of the lights on the water! I don’t think there is anything like it.”
This year’s event, “Magical Nights of Lights,” runs nightly at 6:30 p.m. from Dec. 17 to 21.
The parade’s 14-mile route transforms Newport Harbor into a winter wonderland, with more than 100 elaborately decorated boats, pyrotechnics, light shows, live music and, introduced last year, drones. Aerial displays light up the skies over Balboa Bay Club (at 6 and 8:15 p.m.) and Peninsula Park (6:45 and 8 p.m.)
Newport Beach native Ted McGinley — known for the Emmy-nominated “Shrinking” as well as television classics “Happy Days” and “The Love Boat” — is openingnight grand marshal. Past grand marshals have included producer McG and baseball legend Albert Pujols.
“Seeing the joy the parade brings to generations of families truly feels like coming home.” Ted McGinley Newport native and Emmy nominee
The opening-night kickoff takes place at Marina Park, the parade’s largest public viewing location. Complimentary festivities include an opening ceremony, front-row parade viewing and a holiday market featuring local artisans, food vendors and children’s activities. The market runs 4 to 8 p.m.; the parade passes at 6:45 p.m.
Boat- and home-decorating winners are named in a variety of categories.
The Last Hurrah, owned by brother and sister Rob Meadows and Cathleen Vick, won last year’s coveted Sweepstakes award. The boat originally belonged to their father. “He loved it,” Vick recalls. “We honor his wishes that we use it. The parade is how we celebrate Christmas. We have an electrical contracting company, so we can’t just slap up a few lights!” The boat’s theme was first responders. This year, says electrician Scott Scofield, “We want to revisit the magic of Christmas with a child-friendly theme. I have four kids. To see other children find joy from what we do is very cool for me.”
Decorated homes get awards, too. Overall winner last year was the Balboa Island residence of Darcy and Barbara Grimm Marshall, which is spectacular even without decorations. On four lots, the home is the largest along the parade route.
Steven Gogatz of Innovative Light Designs employed various shades of white, “one like the color of a bubbling glass of champagne.” Adding to spectators’ entertainment: a giant arrow on the neighbor’s property that said “Ditto!”
Sinks believes his marina boat owners are the big winners.
“The parade is an opportunity to use their boats in the nonboating season. They invite friends and family from all over Southern California to watch the parade,” he says.
“The marinas are decorated. There are nautically themed cookies and hot drinks in the marina office. The owners entertain, and their guests have ample parking. Everybody is bundled up, enjoying the water’s edge in the winter,” Sinks observes.
“That’s a rare opportunity for those who don’t live here — and embraced by those of us who do.”
