Naples Lighted Trees in the Bay

Nightly, November 23, 2023-January 1, 2024, sunset

Long Beach Locations:

Rainbow Lagoon
Alamitos Bay Marina
Peninsula
Spinnaker Bay
Rainbow Harbor
Scherer Park
El Dorado Park West
Heartwell Park

With approx. 8 bay locations throughout the city, take time to drive around hot spots such as Naples, Rainbow Lagoon and Spinnaker Bay to enjoy the illuminations. You can also rent a Duffy at Alamitos Landing and take a joy ride on the water to see the holiday trees up close and personal. Every night the sunset is different and lighting unique, so you can see the lights without ever getting tired of seeing them.

Trees in the Bay was launched in 1949 with one live Christmas Tree floating on a raft in Long Beach. Its lights were powered by a generator. Later the live tree was replaced with wooden frames resembling pyramidal oil derricks. By day they were unusual to see, but at night they transformed the bay into a water-world of floating, lit holiday de-lights.

The floating forest has grown through the years and has become an annual tradition. Community associations have become involved by sponsoring sets of platforms.

Each tree today glows with more than 325 lights powered with underwater electrical cable.

According to Long Beach residents Bud and Sally Westcott, they help pay for the lights in their bay as members of the Spinnaker Bay Assoc. "We check to see which lights are functioning and are responsible for the fees for replacing bulbs," said Bud. "We love the tradition and are proud to help keep it going."

Several methods of seeing them include standing on bridges in Belmont Shore and Naples, renting a Duffy boat and taking a cruise to see them up close and personal, or taking a Christmas lights cruise departing from Alamitos Landing.