Take a river, lake, sound, or coastal waters, add a supportive community and spirited boaters, fold in a theme, add decorations and thousands of lights, mix with imagination and enthusiasm, sprinkle with cheerful holiday music. Serve to lots of happy spectator for free. That’s a holiday boat parade!

What could be more fun that celebrating the holidays and boating all at the same time? Every year boaters and sight-seers in all three of our West Coast states participate in holiday boat parades sponsored by communities and/or yacht clubs. While the idea might be fairly new to some of us, this tradition has been around for a long time. For example, 2008 is the 100th anniversary of the Newport Beach, California holiday boat parade.

Sailboats and powerboats, large or small, even dinghies, kayaks and other small craft can all join in the fun depending on event rules. Boats are decorated with dazzling lights and some carry elaborate displays representing the chosen theme, like Santa and reindeers, or maybe Santa and dolphins. Holiday music from boat sound systems cheers the cool winter air, and, depending on weather, you might even hear some carolers from the decks. Generally prizes are awarded for best sailboat, best powerboat, best use of lights, and so on.

Besides treating the community to festive light displays, some parades sponsor charity fund raising by offering boat rides to land-lubbers for a fee or collecting items for the food bank. During the holiday cruise in Seattle, Washington, more than 2,000 developmentally disabled persons ride in the parade along Lake Union courtesy of hundreds of volunteer boaters.

Boat Parades are usually held in the first couple weeks of December, in darkness around 6pm. Remember, there’s usually more wind and the air temperature is cooler near the water so bundle up in appropriate clothing.

If you are going to a boat parade in Oregon or Washington, you will probably need to add rain slickers, neck scarves and gloves, maybe earmuffs depending on local weather. We Washingtonians and Oregonians are used to this. My technique for keeping warm while standing on the shore is to rise up and down on my toes, bend my knees, rock side-to-side, clap my glove-silenced hands, sing with the carolers as they pass by and so on, anything to keep the blood flowing. Taking along a container of hot coffee or cocoa help too, especially if you can wrap your hand around a hot mug.

If viewing from the comfortable indoors is more to your liking, most parade routes are lined with water view restaurants. You might want to make your reservation for dinner early because lots of folks will have the same idea.

Following is a list of a few 2008 Holiday Boat Parades. There are many more. If you live or will be traveling near a waterside town, contact the local Chamber of Commerce, Port Authority or Yacht Club to ask if a parade is being held and for the best viewing points.

California
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
12/17 -21 www.christmasboatparade.com
Port of San Diego Boat Parade of Lights
12/07 – 12/14 www.sdparadeoflights.org
Delta Reflections Christmas Lighted Boat Parade - Stockton
12/6 www.deltaboating.com/mwyc.html

Oregon
Christmas Ship Parade, Portland - on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers
12/6 in Camas, 12/10-21 www.christmasships.org
Newport Lighted Boat Parade - on Yaquina Bay
12/6 www.newportchamber.org

Washington
Illwaco Annual Lighted Boat Parade and 2nd Annual Lighting of the World’s Largest Crab Pot Christmas Tree
12/6 (360) 642-3143
Seafair & 76 Special People's Holiday Cruise on Lake Union
12/7 (206) 728.0123 x117 or via e-mail at kyle@seafair.com
Port of Kennewick Christmas Lighted Boat Parade
12/12 & 13 www.portofkennewick.org or call Mark (509)737-1166
La Conner Lighted Boat Parade - 12/13
(360) 466-4902 or (206) 297-0206
Yul Cup and Lighted Boat Parade - Poulsbo
12/19-20 (360) 779-3116