Newport to kick off annual Christmas Boat Parade

The 99th annual Christmas Boat Parade, one of Southern California’s most anticipated holiday events, is set to kick off Wednesday evening in Newport Beach.

For five straight nights, Wednesday through Sunday, elaborately decorated boats will light up a 14-mile route around the harbor.

The parade begins and ends at Collins Island at 6:30 p.m. and ends at either 8:30 or 9 p.m., depending on the route.

The event, hosted by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Commodores Club, is expected to feature yachts, kayaks, canoes and other vessels. To complement the sights on the water, the Commodores also hold a “Ring of Lights” contest for the best-decorated homes and businesses on the shore.

For more information on the parade, call the Chamber of Commerce at (949) 729-4400.

— Michael Miller