The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is a must-see holiday tradition unlike any other
Every year, the communities of Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, and Balboa Island come together to create a dazzling and festive holiday season.
With Fashion Island’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, the Balboa Island Holiday Home Tour, and Nights of 1000 Lights at the Sherman Library & Gardens in Corona del Mar, there is no shortage of events for both residents and visitors alike to enjoy and celebrate the holidays in Newport Beach.
At the center of the area’s annual holiday calendar is the biggest attraction of all—the century-old tradition that is the Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade.
Event Details
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
December 18th to December 22nd, 2019
Parade starts at approximately 6:30 p.m. each night
Fireworks at 6:15 p.m on December 18th at Newport Pier
Fireworks at 9:05 p.m. on December 22nd at Balboa Pier
What began in 1908 as a nine-vessel flotilla outfitted with Japanese lanterns has blossomed into what many consider one of the best holiday attractions in the U.S.
This year marks the parade’s 111th edition. As in previous years, the boat parade will partner with the American Childhood Cancer Organization and raise awareness through the charity’s Gold Ribbon Tree.
The five-day event, with a parade occurring each evening, rain or shine, from December 18th to December 22nd, will see as many as 100 different boats on a given night—from yachts and pleasure craft to kayaks, canoes, and dinghies. Each vessel is gorgeously illuminated with thousands of lights, many depicting a favorite holiday scene.
Even homes lining the parade route along Balboa Island and Balboa Peninsula become part of the act, providing a spectacular backdrop to the boats floating by.
Each night’s parade begins at approximately 6:30 p.m. and continues for three hours as the procession of the boat maneuvers its a way around Newport Harbor. Opening and closing night fireworks will also take place on December 18th and December 22nd.
The event itself is free, and visitors have numerous public viewing locations from which to enjoy the parade. There are also opportunities to watch from many of the restaurants on Balboa Peninsula, Balboa Island, or the shoreline of Newport Beach. Additionally, you may choose to enjoy the parade from abroad on a chartered boat.
Further details about viewing options, including directions, parking, and a map of the parade route, can be found on the event website.