Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade: The Complete Guide

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christmas boat parade newport beach

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309 Palm St A, Newport Beach, CA 92661, USA

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Phone +1 949-675-0551

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The name of the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade says it all: It's a Christmas parade, a bit like those you might find in small towns and cities all over America. But it takes place in the largest recreational boat harbor on the U.S. west coast, and instead of floats, it's got boats.

The Newport harbor parade has been going on since the early 1900s when Venetian gondolier John Scarpa put lights on his gondola and eight canoes and paraded them around the harbor.

Today, Newport Beach hosts the largest harbor parade in Southern California. More than a hundred boats, canoes, kayaks, and dinghies participate, each of them decked out in enough lights to almost turn night into day.

The harbor parade is a favorite tradition for Newport Beach residents, but it's also one of the country's top holiday happenings. If you're visiting during the holidays from another part of the country (or even another part of the state), it's well worth putting at the top of your to-do list.

Parade Schedule

The parade runs for five days in mid-December, Wednesday through Sunday. You can get all the schedule details on the Boat Parade website. It starts at Bay Island at 6:30 p.m. each evening and finishes at the same spot 2.5 hours later.

Opening and closing nights include spectacular fireworks launched from the Balboa Pier that start around 9 p.m.

The parade goes on when it rains, but not when the water conditions are unsafe. If the Coast Guard issues a small watercraft advisory notice (which is rare), the parade is canceled. That decision happens nightly at 6:00 p.m., and they post a message about it on the parade website.

Reserved Viewing Locations

You can get a reserved spot to see the parade on the viewing locations page, and click on Reserved Seating to get a list of places that offer it. 

Newport Sea Base offers pre-parade entertainment, a reserved place to sit, and a reserved parking spot, too. Details are on the Sea Base website.

Watch From Land

Anywhere along the Newport bayfront is good to watch the lighted boats pass by. In general terms, the parade follows the inner edge of the bay and circles Balboa Island. Try these places to watch the parade from the shore:

• Go to the bay side of the Balboa Peninsula, and watch from any waterfront location where you can find room.
• You can also watch from any spot along the water on Balboa Island.
• Try waterside locations along Pacific Coast Highway between Newport Boulevard and the Balboa Bay Resort.
• On weekends, the boats go into the channel on the west end Lido Isle, and you can watch from the water's edge there.
• The Marina Park Recreational Center on Balboa Blvd. has plenty of space and also hosts family-friendly activities each night of the parade.

Watch From a Boat

If you own a boat, you can participate in the parade. If you want to enjoy the festivities from the water and don't own one, don't despair. The Fun Zone Boat Company and Newport Parade Boats take their guests right into the middle of the action. Reserve with them as early as you can.

Watch From a Restaurant

Many locals like to see the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade from a waterside table at a restaurant. It might take some patience to snag a window table, but it's well worth the effort for a special night out. Try any of the eateries that offer Dine & Watch or Dine & Walk options.

Watch From Your Hotel

If you want to watch the parade from the comfort of a hotel room, you only have one option: Reserve a waterside room at the Balboa Bay Resort and don't delay. They fill up months ahead of time.

Getting to the Parade

The parade takes place in coastal Newport Beach, around the harbor, and Balboa Island just off the Pacific Coast Highway. You can get there from I-405 by taking the Jamboree Road exit, but many other routes will also work. Set your map program or GPS to Balboa Island for a good start.

If you're driving to the parade, go early. Traffic gets quite busy starting about two hours before the parade begins, and all of the roads going toward Balboa Island will be packed.

If you are staying in the Newport Beach area, your hotel might offer free shuttle service to the parade. It can't hurt to ask.

More Ways to Enjoy Christmas in Orange County

Orange County's other waterfront Christmas extravaganza is the Huntington Beach Cruise of Lights. Still, you can find even more things to do during the holidays, including where to find surfing Santas and land-based holiday lights — check the guide to things to do in Orange County at Christmas.