Judges ring in winners for route

The Ring of Lights contest judges fanned out throughout Balboa Island on Monday to look at the houses along the route for the Newport Beach Boat Parade and are expected to announce the winners today.

Karin Graves, special events director for parade sponsor Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, noticed a few new exciting entries for this year, the parade’s centennial.

“The Olsons on the Little Island have Santa in an Aspen chairlift carrier with reindeer decorations,” Graves said.

Donna Di Bari transformed her palm trees into psychedelic-striped candy canes, Graves said.

The Vitarelli family, which won best presentation for the theme of the 2006 parade, constructed a gingerbread house on their dock, she added.

The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. For more information, visit christmasboatparade.com.

— Paul Anderson