2011 Christmas Boat Parade, Newport Beach, California

This year the 103rd Christmas Boat Parade was held in Newport Beach, California. The first boat parade was in 1908 with 4 boats, now about hundred vessels from kayaks to multi – million dollar yachts participate in the parade. They are decorated with lights, animated Christmas scenes and accompanied by music, spinning around the harbor. People who live around the harbor decorate their houses too. All this contributes to a real holiday feeling. Over a million viewers come to watch this spectacular event every year. The Christmas Boat Parade, was hailed as "one of the top ten holiday happenings in the nation" by the New York Times.

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The parade lasts for 5 days, boats and homes compete in parade for the best décor. Some yacht’s owners in the past invested more than $50,000 in decorations for the parade. Unfortunately i don't have any pictures of them as i got there late and didn't not have enough time to set up camera.    

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I went to watch the parade from the Balboa Island this year. It was a great pleasure walking on its streets that night: lots of people, Christmas lights and music, I could feel Christmas and New Year eve everywhere in the air.

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One house even had snowmaking machine and snowwoman, made from real snow. When the owner turned on the snowmaker the kids passing by went crazy about it and they just blocked the whole view, I couldn’t even get closer to the house to take a picture. 

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On the last day of the event, fireworks closed out the parade. It was a very nice touch to the end of the event. 

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During the parade many boat's owners offer their services and can get you on boat to sail with them along for the fee starting at $25. Or you can get dinner cruise on a bigger ship and enjoy the whole show while having a meal. 

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It was really challenging to get in and get out from the island, traffic and parking situation was tough during the event.  Next year I’ll try to get there earlier and take more pictures of the decorated boats.

This video from parade, just to give you an idea on what is going on there.

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