99 Boat Parades

One boat, two boats.

Red boat, blue boat.

The 99th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, sponsored by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, kicked off last night from Collins Island.

On the Balboa Island Bridge, people were lined up to watch the boats come into the channel before turning and heading out.

Boats of all shapes and sizes floated past crowds of spectators, waving and cheering as they passed by.

The Harbor Patrol heads the fleet, followed by the lead boat, a 69-foot McKinna yacht, featuring a large inflatable snowman in back, and an announcer signaling the start of the parade and welcoming visitors.

All the boats reflected this year’s theme, “’Twas the Lights Before Christmas,” with simple strands on some and elaborate displays on others.

There was a Tommy Bahama boat with palm trees and an illuminated marlin, some boats had singing and dancing Santas, and the Grinch display was a crowd favorite.

From the smallest boats to the biggest yachts, some decorations were elaborate while others were simple and elegant.

Music blared from many of the boats, with traditional Christmas carols playing behind boats blasting the Beach Boys’ California surf music.

Sandra and Michael Wilcox recently moved back to Promontory Point from Canada and were enjoying the community spirit they said the parade brings out in people.

“The parade gets you in the Christmas mood,” he said, adding that everyone around them seemed happy to be part of the festivities.

Wilcox grew up in Newport Beach, has watched the parade for the last 10 years and said people live here because the community cares about tradition and getting involved.

“It’s great to see that there are still things like this in our jaded world,” he said.

Joan McEvoy was below the bridge on Balboa Island, asking people where the best spot was to see the boats.

It was her first time at the parade, and the Los Alamitos resident wanted to make sure she and her family had a bird’s-eye view.

Her daughter Ann Marie, son-in-law, Brad Conley, and their two children, had just moved back to Southern California from Michigan.

Conley lived in San Bernardino growing up, but he and his family came down every year for the boat parade.

“This is old home week for him,” McEvoy said.

The boat parade will continue for the next four nights, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Collins Island and ending there approximately two hours later.

For information, call (949) 729-4400.

For more photos, click here.

WINNING LIGHTS

Homes and businesses participating in the Ring of Lights decorating competition were judged by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Commodores. Some of the winners are as follows. For a complete list of winning entries, go to www.dailypilot.com.

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OVERALL SWEEPSTAKES:

Carl and Mary Raymond

40 Linda Isle, Newport Beach

BEST PRESENTATION OF THE THEME “’Twas the Lights Before Christmas”

1st Place:

Dennis and Patty Vitarelli

140 South Bayfront, Balboa Island

2nd Place:

Jim and Kathy Busby

111 East Bayfront, Little Island

3rd Place:

Bill and Gay Wassall Kelly

409 Edgewater, Balboa Peninsula

LIGHTS & ANIMATION:

1st Place:

Jim and Peggy Rich

802 South Bayfront, Balboa Island

2nd Place:

John and Essie Bootsma

128 Via Lido Nord, Newport Beach

3rd Place:

Mike and Suzanne Kneubuhl and Argyle and Madonna Nelson

811 and 811 ½ North Bayfront, Balboa Island

HUMOR & ORIGINALITY:

1st Place:

Bob and Marcy Cook

538 South Bayfront, Balboa Island

2nd Place:

Bob and Carol Senour

1000 East Balboa Blvd., Balboa Peninsula

3rd Place:

Bill Unacapher

335 East Bayfront, Little Island

MOST TRADITIONAL:

1st Place:

Robert and Christyne Olson

351 East Bayfront, Little Island

2nd Place:

Eric and Shirley Pepys

526 South Bayfront, Balboa Island

3rd Place

Barry and Karen Meguiar

201 North Bayfront, Balboa Island

BEST FIRST TIME ENTRY:

Elizabeth Vincent

24 Harbor Island, Newport Beach

CHAIRMAN’S CHOICE:

Phil and Mary Lyons

36 Harbor Island, Newport Beach

PHOTOGRAPHER’S CHOICE:

Greg and Loretta Zimmerman

327 Sapphire, Balboa Island

FOUNDER’S CHOICE:

Bruce Fabrizio

1407 Bayside Drive, Corona Del Mar

DAILY PILOT SPONSOR’S AWARD:

Donna Dibari

710 South Bayfront, Balboa Island

BEST COMMERCIAL ENTRY:

American Legion Hall Post 291

215 15th St., Balboa

BEST YACHT CLUB ENTRY:

Balboa Yacht Club

1801 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar

DID YOU KNOW?

Newport Beach’s first “lighted boat” parade in 1908 took place on July 4, not during the Christmas holidays;

 Some owners have spent more than $50,000 to decorate their boat for the Christmas Boat Parade;

 Official boat parade merchandise is available for the first time on the boat parade website, www.christmasboatparade.com;

 The parade is only canceled if the Coast Guard issues a small watercraft advisory, otherwise it runs as scheduled rain or shine;

 All boats must be registered in the parade, even if they can’t participate every night.

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at sue.thoensen@latimes.com.