Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade 2011

Come join us for this traditional annual parade – now in its 103nd year. It gets bigger every year with nearly a million viewers and is a delight to visitors of all ages. The New York Times named Newport Beach’s boat parade as “one of the top ten holiday happenings in the nation”, Yahoo Travel awarded Newport Beach the #2 spot in the U.S. for Holiday Lights (just ahead of Disney World and just behind New York City!), and Frommer’s Travel voted Newport Beach into the “Top Ten World’s Best Holiday Lights”.

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade offers a dazzling array of holiday lights, on both the massive line of brightly decorated boats and yachts wending their way through the harbor and on the countless elaborately adorned houses along on the shoreline.

In 2011, the parade will take place on five consecutive nights, from Wednesday, December 14 through Sunday, December 18, starting at 6:30 p.m. and ending at approximately 9:00 p.m. nightly. On the final night, there will be a spectacular fireworks display at 9 p.m.

To view the parade, you can reserve a table at one of many bayside restaurants (reserve way ahead!), or board one of the many charter cruise boats to see it up close (also reserve ahead), or simply stake out a comfy spot (with lots of blankets and hot chocolate) somewhere along the parade route. One of our favorite places is along the sidewalk around Balboa Island, where you can see the parade coming and going multiple times and you can stroll along and view the decorated homes and listen to the carolers and performers along the way. Be sure to arrive very early to secure parking and a prime vantage point!

The Newport Channel Inn’s Boat Parade room rates are about the best value you can find! Room reservations can be made by calling 949 642-3030 or you can book your room on www.newportchannelinn.com.

When you check-in at the Newport Channel Inn, the front desk staff will be happy to provide you with a map of the parade route showing the approximate times where the beginning of the parade will pass by dozens of viewing spots around the harbor.

This is an event you won’t want to miss. Tell your friends, family, and co-workers!