Time to see the lights

While dozens of boat owners prepare for next week’s Newport Beach boat parade, those who prefer their holiday lights on solid ground are getting their own shindig underway for Sunday.

The 2008 Ring of Lights contest judging will happen Monday evening, with houses staying festooned through all of next week, said Jeff Parker, vice president of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

The winners will be announced Tuesday.

“With the Ring of Lights a lot of people don’t register so it’s hard to gauge the participation, but every year for the past five years it seems like more homes are being decorated,” he said.

Newport’s waterfront homes surrounding the harbor and bay will be decorated with lights and displays that are everything from traditional, original, to gut-busting hilarious.

In the days leading up to the parade, residents and visitors alike can walk through Newport Beach’s islands, harbor and Back Bay areas to enjoy decorations.

Organizers say the Ring of Lights has become an event unto itself, becoming nearly as celebrated as the annual floating parade, which begins Wednesday.

“It’s such a pretty place to begin with, when you add the decorations on top of it” it just puts it into a class of its own, said Morgan Garon, officer manager at the Newport Beach Yacht Club.

Anyone interested in entering the contest, that includes home, business, restaurant or yacht club, must return their registration form to the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce by noon today.

This year’s categories are:

 Sweepstakes winner

 Best humor, originality

 Most Traditional

 Best lights and animation

 Chairman’s choice

 Photographer’s choice

 Founder’s choice

 Best decorated landscaping

 Best first-time entry

 The Daily Pilot sponsor award

 Best commercial entry

 Best Yacht Club entry

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.