Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

Boat parade time across America

by Lee Mylchreest on 8 Dec 2012
Boat parade Lake Havasu SW
It's Boat Parade time across America. From Arizona to Florida, from Newport Beach to Chattanooga, the lighted boat parade is a big part of Christmas.

Prizes are given, excitement runs high and those without boats line the shores to celebrate and discuss the boats - from awe-inspiring to sweet, from ridiculous to hilarious. It's all part of the fun.


However, in Los Angeles, Marina del Rey's boat parade will this year be special, as it is their 50th. Most people are warmly attired as they sail their glowing, highly decorated vessels for applause and kudos. Everything from runabouts to tall ships, yachts and powerboats forget their differences and join in the celebrations. Marina del Rey's is happening tonight, on the 8th December.


It doesn't have to involve a port or the ocean. Also tonight not far away, the artificially created Lake Perris is holding its 14th Lights on the Lake Holiday Boat Parade. They're raising money for the local children's hospital.

Many have already been held. Some are not raising money, but showing off their electrical skills. In Chattanooga last night, decorated boats paraded on the Tennessee River and here it was a show put on by the 'International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers'


Over in Florida they are boat-parade-crazy. There are nearly as many boat parades as waterways - Apollo Beach, Astor, Boca Raton, Bonita Springs, Cape Canaveral, Carrabelle, Cape Coral, Cedar Key, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers Beach, Jacksonville, Key Largo, Key West, Florida Keys, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Sarasota, St Petersburg, Tampa - and that's not an exhaustive list.


But there is something different about Newport Christmas Boat Parade this year. There is a movement to boycott it, by members of 'Stop the Dock Tax' movement.

The event, put on by the Newport Chamber of Commerce and hosted by their Commodores Club, has found itself in the middle of a nasty battle between residential dock owners and the city.

Folks around the water are threatening to turn off their lights, and pull their boats from the parade, in protest over increased dock fees proposed by the city of Newport.

It seems you can't keep politics even out of Christmas...

Navico AUS Zeus3S FOOTERZhik 2024 DecemberExcess Catamarans

Related Articles

SailGP's return to Auckland for Season 6 confirmed
ITM is the NZ's Grand Prix's Title Partner, marking a fourth year supporting Black Foils. After a record breaking debut, the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix Auckland has been confirmed to be returning in 2026 and is set to be bigger than ever.
Posted on 26 Jun
Rolex SailGP Championship 2026 dates confirmed
Including a return to fan-favorite destination, Auckland SailGP has released further details of forthcoming 2026 Season, including the return of fan-favorite locations, multi-year hosting agreements secured across all regions, and an evolved regional structure to raise the stakes for athletes and fans alike.
Posted on 26 Jun
BOISW - New Committee announced for 2026
New Committee working hard behind the scenes to rework the 2026 Bay of Islands Sailing Week . A newly appointed committee is already working hard behind the scenes to rework the 2026 Bay of Islands Sailing Week event while honouring the traditions that have made it so special to the sailing community.
Posted on 26 Jun
Pip Hare Announced as Patron of WORLDSTAR 2026
A meaningful return to her roots with the Royal Western Yacht Club of England The Royal Western Yacht Club (RWYC) is absolutely delighted to welcome solo ocean racing legend Pip Hare as the Patron of WORLDSTAR 2026—our flagship round-the-world sailing event. This is more than a title; it's a homecoming.
Posted on 26 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 7
British mixed dominance in dinghy and catamaran After the second day of the Sailing Grand Slam in the Olympic mixed classes, Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris are leading the 470 class even more dominantly than John Gimson and Anna Burnet in the Nacra 17 on Thursday (June 26).
Posted on 26 Jun
29th Superyacht Cup Palma day 1
Cervo and Open Season take opening day honours The Superyacht Cup Palma 2025 swung into action today, with captains and crews across the varied and inspiring fleet seizing the opportunity to take the measure of the competition out on the racecourse.
Posted on 26 Jun
J/70 Mixed-Plus Worlds at Lake Garda Day 1
Yupi leads after a perfect opening day in Torbole Lake Garda delivered its finest conditions for the opening day of the first-ever J/70 Mixed-Plus World Championship: three races completed in a steady, warm Ora breeze peaking at 20 knots.
Posted on 26 Jun
Tschüss 2 - Transatlantic Titans
Line Honours for Christian Zugel's Volvo 70 in the Transatlantic Race 2025 Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 (USA), owned by Christian Zugel and co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, has taken Line Honours in the West to East Transatlantic Race 2025 in an elapsed time of 07 Day 15 Hrs 29 Mins and 10 Secs.
Posted on 26 Jun
Craig Wood Makes History
The first triple amputee to sail solo non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific Craig is the first triple amputee to sail solo non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific, completing the 7506nm journey from Mexico to Japan in 90 days.
Posted on 26 Jun
NTG Global Graduate Program
Shape your career and propel yourself into the world of innovation North Technology Group, a global leader in advanced composite technology, is offering an exciting and dynamic graduate program that will shape your career and propel you into the world of innovation.
Posted on 26 Jun