Lighted Boats Parade into the Holidays
Over the next couple of weekends, it will seem as if there are as many lighted boat parades as there are LEDs on a string of Christmas lights. To get in the (nautical) holiday mood, check out one or more of the following:
San Francisco Bay Area
December 3
- 40th annual Lighted Yacht Parade on the Oakland-Alameda Estuary, 5:30 p.m. The theme is ‘Celebration of Lights’. The $30 entry fee includes a skipper’s goodie bag. Co-sponsored by Oakland and Encinal Yacht Clubs in Alameda.
- Lighted Boat Parade on Mare Island Strait, 5 p.m. Hosted by Vallejo YC.
December 10
- Lighted Boat Parade in Sausalito. The Winterfest tent (in the parking lot in front of the Spinnaker restaurant) will open at 5 p.m. ($10 suggested donation). The parade will start at 6, and a fireworks show will follow at 7:30.
- Lighted Boat Parade on the San Rafael Canal, 6 p.m. Call (415) 272-0535 for info; the event’s website is currently offline.
December 16
- Decorated Boat Parade on the San Francisco Cityfront, 6 p.m., hosted by St. Francis YC.
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California Delta
December 3
- Lighted Boat Parade on the Sacramento River between Delta Marina and the Rio Vista Bridge in Rio Vista, 6-7 p.m. One of several festivities that evening in Rio Vista.
- Delta Reflections Lighted Boat Parade, Buckley Cove to downtown Stockton, 5-6 p.m. Organized by Marina West YC, (209) 477-7653.
Monterey Bay Area
- December 3: Lighted Boat Parade in Santa Cruz, 5:30 p.m. The theme this year is ‘Santa Cruz’in Under Starlight Together’. Hosted by SCYC.
- December 4: Lighted Boat Parade in Monterey. Hosted by Monterey Peninsula YC.
If we missed any, please let us know.
We haven’t collected a schedule of events in Southern California, but we do know of one (actually two) in San Diego. At 5 p.m. on December 11 and 18, the Parade of Lights will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the San Diego Zoo with the theme ‘It Began with a Roar’.
Getting a good photo of a lighted boat parade is tricky indeed, requiring a combination of good equipment, skill and a bit of luck. If you capture a really good image, please send it along.