The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce proudly hosts the 100th Year of this spectacular Holiday Tradition
Join over a million viewers as you watch beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks and canoes sail along the harbor in the 99th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. Hosted by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, we invite you to sail to the theme “100 Years of Christmas Cheers.”
The Event
As Newport Beach’s Christmas Card to the world, the boat parade will set the harbor ablaze for five consecutive nights, beginning Wednesday, December 17 and ending Sunday, December 21, 2008. The parade has starts off Bay Island at 6:30 pm and finishes at the same site at approximately 9:00 pm each evening.
Beautiful multi-million dollar yachts, kayaks, canoes and other small boats will light up the harbor as a dazzling array of holiday lights and music fill the air at the Christmas Boat Parade. Many of the boats will be richly decorated with animated Christmas scenes accompanied by music and costumed carolers. Some boat owners in the past have spent over $50,000 to decorate their vessels for the event. The Christmas floats will wind their way some 14 miles around the harbor to give viewers in restaurants, yacht clubs, on public beaches, and in private homes a incredible sight that has delighted millions of people for 98 years.
The Christmas Boat Parade, which has been hailed as “one of the top ten holiday happenings in the nation” by the New York Times, is truly a magical holiday tradition for all ages. The parade continues to be a premier event during the holiday season in Southern California that brings joy and happiness to all that view it.
New Parade Route Starting Point in 2008
The 2008 Parade will feature a new starting and ending point, located off Bay Island. The parade itself will run the same route as last year - it will just start and end in a different place. This will change the time at which the parade passes points along the harbor from previous years.
The 2008 route and schedule can be found here >>2008 Route Map and Schedule
The reasons for the change are explained here >>>2008 Route Change Details
Ring of Lights
Serving as the backdrop for the hundreds of lighted boats in the parade is the annual “Ring of Lights” contest, hosted by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Beautifully decorated bayside homes and businesses surrounding the harbor go “all out” with their own holiday spirit, featuring everything from roof-top animated scenes to dancing Christmas trees. With its own judged categories and prizes awarded, the “Ring of Lights” has become as celebrated as the boat parade itself.
Awards Dinner and Auction
Both the Boat Parade and the Ring of Lights competitions culminate at the annual Awards Dinner & Auction to be held on Friday, January 23, 2009 at The Balboa Bay Club and Resort. Open to the public, this gala event will honor award winners from both competitions. Additionally, the party will feature live entertainment, dancing and an incredible live and silent auction. Details on how your business can support the auction and the parade, will be available shortly.
For more information about these events, or to request information about viewing areas, restaurants and boat charter companies, please call the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce at (949) 729-4400. For a complete listing of member restaurants and boat charters please see the Viewing Page. Also see these pages to Enter Your Boat, Enter Your Home or Business.
For more information about the Christmas Boat Parade, please call (949) 729-4400.
This event is hosted by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.
© Copyright 2007 - The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce
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