Harboring holiday spirit
Noaki Schwartz
NEWPORT BEACH -- Grab a pullover and join the one million others coming
to the harbor to watch the 91st annual Christmas Boat Parade tonight.
More than 150 yachts, kayaks, canoes and other small boats will
participate each evening until Thursday. Many will be decorated with
Christmas scenes, carry carolers or play music as they wind their way
around the harbor.
The event began in 1908 as a small, lighted boat parade orchestrated by
John Scarpa and Joseph Beek. Scarpa, an Italian gondolier, led eight
other boats decorated by Japanese paper lanterns through the harbor.
Five years later, the parade had grown considerably and prizes were being
awarded for the best boats. Since then, the parade has become one of
Newport Beach’s biggest events of the year. The New York Times even
listed it as one of the top 10 holiday happenings in the nation.
The following is a list from the Chamber of Commerce on some of the best
spots to watch the parade:
* Any restaurant along Coast Highway -- warmth, food and wine.
* Balboa Island/Balboa Island Bridge -- if you can get there early enough
to park.
* Boy Scout Sea Base -- a great place with lawn seating
* American Legion Hall -- dinner will be served to the public, but be
sure to book before going.
* Lido Isle Bridge/Lido Marine Village -- you can see all the boats turn
right in front of you.
* Lido Parks.
* 15th Street Beach -- good place, but limited parking.
* 9th Street Beach -- good place, but limited parking.
* Balboa Pavilion/Fun Zone -- probably the best place for parking.
* Pirate’s Cove -- for the Corona del Mar crowd, this offers a good view
of all the boats as they return to the harbor, but it can get chilly.
* Join a yacht club or buy a boat and sign up for next year.
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