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
HOME SWEEPSTAKES
Lyons residence
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