What to Do on the Weekends

The 29th annual Los Angeles Harbor Christmas Afloat parade kicks off this weekend, featuring a virtual flotilla of brightly decorated boats that will wind their way through the harbor before thousands of spectators.

The Christmas Afloat parade is one of the most popular events at the harbor, and organizers say they expect more than 50,000 people to line the parade route this year. And, as in years past, there will be yachts and tugboats, fireboats and big-masted schooners, all festooned with Christmas finery.

This year’s theme is “Christmas Around the World.” With so many people expected, organizers said they will use the event to collect food for the needy. Receptacles for canned foods will be placed at locations along the parade route, and collections will be given to the Los Angeles Food Bank for distribution at 644 centers in the Los Angeles area.

What: Annual Los Angeles Harbor Christmas Afloat parade.

Where: Los Angeles Harbor. The best locales to view the parade are the East Basin and Banning’s Landing in Wilmington, Ports O’Call Village on the Main Channel and the Cabrillo Marina in San Pedro. Many of the restaurants overlooking the water will be offering special menus for the evening.

When: The parade starts at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Route: It will start at the East Basin and head south down the Main Channel to the Cabrillo Marina where it ends, affording good views from the wharves and waterside attractions.

Background: The annual parade is a seasonal favorite in the South Bay, turning the largest and busiest harbor on the West Coast into a glittering spectacle of lights and sounds. Parade entrants will compete in several categories. The winners will be identified in Sunday’s event.