Harbor set to kick off weeklong holiday parade

Mathis Winkler

One million people in seven days. Ninety-two years of history.

Hundreds of boats. And lights too plentiful to count.

The Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade superlatives keep getting

better every year, and residents and visitors will gather around the bay

Sunday night to kick off this year’s festivities.

Considered by some to be one of the top holiday events in the nation,

Italian gondolier John Scarpa and Joseph Beek, one of the city’s

founders, started the parade as the Tournament of Lights in 1908.

A total of eight boats skippered around the harbor, illuminated by

Japanese lanterns and led by Scarpa’s gondola.

Under a new name -- the Illuminated Water Parade -- things got

dangerous a few years later, when spectators witnessed a planned

passenger rescue from a burning boat.

While modern-day parade participants and spectators won’t witness

similar “catastrophes,” which included the explosion of underwater mines,

at least 65 registered boats -- decorated with everything from Santas to

millennium bugs -- will surely keep everyone equally entertained.

And while recommending several layers of clothing to withstand

50-degree weather, the event’s organizers said it looks as if the only

water involved would be that in the bay.

“The weather looks good,” said Brett Hemphill on Friday. A sailing

enthusiast, the 34-year-old businessman is this year’s parade chairman.

“It looks clear. I was out there last night for the house judging [of the

Ring of Lights], and it was pretty pleasant.”

Winding its way around the entire harbor, the parade’s route should

offer plenty of viewing spots. But Hemphill suggested spectators not wait

until the last minute.

“I think you want to get there early,” he said, adding that parking

spots fill up quickly every year.

As the parade’s former control chairman, Hemphill urged boat parties

to stay clear of the official route.

“Make sure to stay out of the way of the boat parade,” he said. “Get a

map. Be familiar. And float in the center.”

FYI

The 92nd annual Christmas Boat Parade will begin Sunday and will end

Dec. 23. Each night, the boat procession will start at Collins Island,

off Balboa Island, at 6:30 p.m. and will end at the same spot around 9

p.m.

For more information, call (949) 729-4400.

BOX

And the winners are . . .

The 2000 Ring of Lights Winners

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