With 1,000 miles of Pacific Ocean and much more inland lake, delta and river frontage, California is the capital of Christmas boat parade celebrating.

The holiday tradition of lighting up your vessel with decorations and lights doesn't span just the decades, but is a 100 year tradition. Newport Beach is credited with having one of the oldest Christmas Boat Parades that launched in the early 1900s.

Bethel Island  Lighted Boat Parade,  San Joaquin Yacht Club December 10, 2011

Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights Dec.  9, 10,11,16, 17, 2011

Discovery Bay Parade of Lights Dec. 10, 2011
The Lighted Boat Parade heads toward Bays of Discovery

Huntington Beach Christmas Boat Parade Dec. 10 & 11, 2011

LA Christmas Boat Parade (San Pedro) Saturday, December 3, 2011  LA Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade
 

Long Beach Parade of 1,000 Lights  Dec. 10, 2011 shorelineyachtclub.com

Marina Del Rey  Holiday Boat Parade Dec. 10, 2011

Morro Bay Christmas Boat Parade

Naples Christmas Boat Parade Dec. 17, 2011

Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade Dec. 14 - 18, 2011 christmasboatparade.com

Oakland Lighted Yacht Parade  Dec. 3, 2011
Cartoon Christmas! lightedyachtparade.com

Oceanside Parade of Lights Boat Parade  Saturday, Dec 10, 2011 Parade of Lights & Holiday Craft Fair hosted by OYC - harbor boat parade of holiday lights. Contests held for best decorated power, sail and small craft  oceansideyc.com

Petaluma Holiday Lighted Boat Parade Dec. 3, 2011
 

Redondo Beach  

Redondo Beach  King Harbor  Dec. 10, 2011 
Christmas Boat Parade is sponsored by King Harbor Yacht Club. khyc.org

San Diego Parade of Lights Sundays, December 11 & 18, 2011, 5:30 - 9 p.m.

San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Lights & Sights Boat Parade Dec. 16, 2011

Santa Barbara Parade of Lights December 11, 2011, 5:30 p.m.  Parade of Lights City of SB, Waterfront Dept. East Beach, West Beach and Stearns Wharf (805) 897-1962 Boats will dress up in colored lights for the 24th annual boat parade through the waterfront. Visit Santa and his village before the parade and enjoy fireworks after the parade. 2011 Parade of Lights Date: December 11, 2011 Time: 3:00 PM Location: Santa Barbara Harbor Admission: Free Phone: (805) 897-1962 Email: bslagle@SantaBarbaraCA.gov Description: The 26th Annual Parade of Lights will take place on Sunday, December 11th. Festivities begin with a Santa's Village event at 3:00 p.m. on the City Pier. There will be a visit from Santa, and he's bringing tons of snow for children to play in, plus holiday music. A cannon firing on Stearns Wharf will start the parade at 5:30 p.m. Join us with distinguished judges and other spectators as we cheer on 30-50 boaters parading along the the Santa Barbara coastline." A short fireworks display will follow the boat parade followed in turn by an awards ceremony and after-party (place to be determined). More Info:  santabarbaraca.gov

Santa Cruz Harbor Boat Parade  Dec. 3, 2011, 5:30 - 9:30

Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade & Fireworks  December 10, 2011 6 -9  p.m.

Stockton Delta Reflections Lighted Boat Parade

December 3, 2011 Delta Reflections Lighted Boat Parade
Holiday: Christmas lights adorn boats and yachts as they sail into the downtown Stockton Waterfront! The lighted boat parade starts at 5pm around Buckley Cove (Near Light 36) and should be in Downtown Stockton by 6pm.
Fee: Free Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Phone Number: 209-477-7653

Ventura Parade of Lights Boat Parade  Saturday, December 17,2011

Additional harbor tours with no boat parade: December 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 20, 21 & 22, 2011,   Tours depart at 6:30 p.m. and return about 7:30 p.m.
 (805) 642-1393
islandpackers.com

Holiday Caroling Cruise and Parade of Lights Cruise Ride and sing with Island Packers aboard the  Island Adventure  catamaran departing from 1691 Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor. Enjoy the harbor lights and the decorated boats in the marinas and Harbor Village while singing holiday songs with the crew and passengers. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $9 for children. Hot and cold beverages and snacks are available for purchase. In addition, Island Packers is also offering a special cruise for the annual Departure is at 6:30 p.m., followed by two laps around the harbor, and returning at 8:45 p.m. Fare is $32 for adults, $29 for seniors and $22 for children. For reservations, call Island Packers 

Venice Canals Holiday Boat Parade  Sunday, December 11, 2011, 4 p.m.

Join all the fun at the Venice Canals as this creative mirror-image of Italy expresses its holiday spirit with a brilliantly lit display of small boats, canoes, kayaks and costumes. 4 p.m. From Admiralty Way, turn right on Via Marina, then left onto Washington Boulevard. Go 1/4 mile, turn right onto Dell Ave. Park, then walk toward the beautiful holiday lights!

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Continuing to be one of the top Christmas celebration tourist draws, the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade touts around one million visitors just over a one-week event.  Colorful, festive fun, the boat parades are pure holiday magic! Lighted boats navigate the channels among decorated homes, restaurants and shops, and provide vantage points for onlookers from dry docks. Some boat parades offer rides, as well.

One of the best ways and companies providing holiday boat magic is Hornblower Cruises and Events. They have yachts in the major harbors--San Diego, Newport Beach, Marina del Rey and San Francisco.

Boat and yacht owners participating in the lighted parades can spend large sums to decorate their vessels with lavish designs. We've seen TV monitors, top notch bands, Santa on board with cute elves in little red skirts, and event designs to mimic an entire city skylight. Money and the imagination limit what can be done on these power hungry ventures that often require extra voltage for the venture.

Whatever your passion, you won't want to miss this special time of year in California, when the boats are extra lively & bright!