Skipper of the show

Gary McEachen may be the luckiest man this year at the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade.

The longtime resident won a citywide contest a few months ago to create the theme for the 99th annual parade, held by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. Chamber officials chose McEachen’s phrase “’Twas the Lights Before Christmas” out of more than 100 submissions.

As a reward for coining his five-word phrase — unless “‘twas” counts as two words — McEachen won a stay at the Balboa Bay Club and a ride on the lead boat the final night of the parade.

“I submitted about five or six entries, and I was delighted they picked it,” said McEachen, who runs an estate liquidation business and has entered the theme contest in the past. “Frankly, it wasn’t the one I thought they were going to pick.”

The Christmas Boat Parade has put Newport Beach on the map nationwide during the holiday season, but with residents like McEachen getting choice billing, it’s even more beloved by locals.

During the five-day parade, scheduled to begin this evening and continue through Sunday, more than 80 boats are expected to tour the 14-mile course around Newport Harbor, while more than two dozen homes and businesses plan to illuminate themselves on the shoreline.

Richard Luehrs, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said it’s been more than a decade since his office drafted a report on how much revenue the parade brings in for Newport Beach. Still, he said, the event’s impact on the community goes far beyond the balance sheet.

“We get a tremendous national recognition for a unique event not every community across America can put together,” Luehrs said. “For one thing, you don’t have a harbor. For another, you don’t have 100 boats willing to decorate and parade around the harbor. So places like Kansas City, Mo., where it’s below zero and snowy — they appreciate the opportunity Newport Beach has.”

The parade is set to begin tonight at 6:30 at Collins Island and end at the same location approximately two hours later. As with the last two years, veteran boater and radio personality Mike Whitehead will deliver live commentary each night from the Balboa Fun Zone.

Whitehead, who sailed in the parade for decades before taking the announcer’s booth, will also give a live broadcast Saturday evening for KLAA-AM (830).

“It’s nice because I can add a little flavor to it,” he said. “I can talk about Newport and what it’s like to be skippering in the parade.”

MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at michael.miller@latimes.com.