This was truly one of the most magical holiday experiences I've ever had. Seeing Newport Harbor transformed by millions of lights -- on the boats, the bayfront homes, and reflected across the water -- was absolutely breathtaking. The natural beauty of the harbor combined with the festive displays creates something really special and uniquely California. The atmosphere felt warm and joyful in the best way. There were families, couples, groups of friends, toddlers bundled up in blankets, and grandparents taking it all in -- people of all ages and backgrounds simply enjoying the moment together. It felt heartwarming and timeless, like a holiday tradition that brings everyone together. The cruise itself was comfortable, well-organized, and immersive, with music, beautifully decorated boats, and nonstop views throughout the ride. Everything felt festive without being overwhelming, and the pacing was perfect to really soak it all in. Whether you're a local or visiting from out of town, this is an unforgettable way to experience the holiday season. I would absolutely recommend it and would happily do it again -- it's the kind of experience that truly captures the magic of Christmas. If you're planning to go, use code SNOWMN15 for $15 off Holiday Lights Cruises or $40 off Duffy electric boat rentals. read more

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Absolute best secret and gem! If you know, you know! This boat parade has been going on for years. They do a loop around Balboa, Lido Island in Newport. I highly recommend coming early, bring blankets/chairs and dress warm! The boats are pretty to watch. Some have music, some will a microphone and they are singing or wishing you a merry Christmas. Kids and pets friendly too. This is a fun activity for everyone. One last suggestion- look at the route and try to time yourself at that location otherwise you will miss it. read more

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Too many boats at the halfway point where the parade turns around. Those boats keep creeping closer and closer to the parade, forcing the parade boats to make the turn much earlier. Practically can't even see the boats anymore. There should be either a keepout zone in this area, or an enforced line that can't be crossed. read more

An every year tradition for our family! Always a Festive, fun evening at the beach. We always take side streets down to the peninsula and get there early to avoid traffic. Parking is always an issue but if you get there early there are spots on the residential side streets. We always put a blanket and chairs down on the bayfront, go grab a pizza or a sandwich and go back to our spot and have a picnic. Bring jackets dnd blankets! It gets cold and damp. It's fun to walk around Balboa fun zone area or Balboa island before or after watching the parade, the lights and decorations are amazing! We always take a thermos of hot cocoa:) read more

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I really enjoyed myself on the Christmas Boat Ride. The boat was spacious, and it was cold outside of course, so if you really want to enjoy the views wear a big jacket. The staff on board were nice and served spiked hot chocolate which was actually delicious and the perfect drink to sip in the cold while riding along the water looking at the lights. The tour itself is pretty lengthy so it's worth the experience. The houses were decorated beautifully and there was a lot to see. It wasn't too crowded and we were instructed to keep our masks on at all times. I would definitely do it again next holiday season. read more

My family and I have been going to the boat parade for several years now and it has been so much fun and the boats are always so festive. However, this year was awful. There were so few boats and most of them weren't even decorated very well. It was so much shorter then years prior. There was so much false advertising this year and it was so disappointing! Also, we talked this up so much to our family that came from out of town and we ended up wasting an evening watching this pitiful display. We will not be returning to watch this again and we will not be recommending this to anyone. read more

A MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & HOLIDAY FAMILY TRADITION CELEBRATING ITS 109th YEAR! THE SHOW IS ONLY ABOUT A 1/2 AN HOUR LONG, SO GET THERE EARLY! IF YOU ARE LATE CHOOSE TO VIEW THE PARADE FROM ANOTHER SITE. THE BOAT PARADE TRAVELS TO DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF NEWPORT BEACH. Christmasboatparade.com has the complete route & schedule times that the boats sail past various businesses & select spots in the harbor. The parking varies in price. If you're lucky you can get Free parking all the way up to $20 for a reserved spot. We lucked out & got Free Parking twice. We were late getting at the beginning of the parade because of the traffic back up & only caught the tail end of the parade. It was mobbed with people on the beach. Over 1 million people see this event that takes place over several days including the weekend. We headed over to another section which was toward the finish about an hour later & viewed the entire boat parade. That is one really good option that this parade offers - the ability to see the entire parade at different times. They have fireworks Sunday night, but most people don't wait around as it happens much later in the evening. Some of the highlights included the huge yacht that had a large volcano that erupted with fire. Another big crowd pleaser was the large yacht with its own marching band aboard. Another cool yacht was one dedicated to The Mighty Locomotive Train. If you missed it this year mark it on your calendar for next year. A BIG SHOUT OUT & THANK YOU TO NEWPORT BEACH THAT DOES THIS FREE OF CHARGE EVERY YEAR FOR THE CITIZENS OF SOCAL FOR OVER 100 YEARS! It used to be, you had to have mega bucks & be really rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget! read more

Christmas Boat Parade - Dec 13th -17th 109th Anniv. Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade Free Event 1 Million People - Festivals Near Me

What a letdown. You would think with all the hype and crowds this thing would be impressive. I heard people started getting there up to 4 hours early! There was security all over the parking lots so people wouldn't park for the parade and people walked over a mile to see it. Fortunately, we didn't try getting there until about a 1/2 hour before and of course we couldn't find parking on Balboa Island, so we parked on a hill and watched from above. There were a few cool boats, but when it ended we were shocked at how weak it was. Some boats only had white lights on them. I hope this was the recession edition or else, there must be low standards in the OC. DO NOT plan your day/night around this! read more

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is a terrific and fun event for the whole family. The parade is completely free and visible from many areas around the harbor. The official website at http://www.christmasboatparade.com/ has a map that shows you all the viewing areas. In a few other areas for a small fee there are bleacher seating also. This year (2014) will be the best yet with celebrity grand marshalls, lots of lit up boats and of course, plenty to do and see in Newport Beach. Do not confuse this event with the boat cruises from Newport Landing on Yelp - they are a business and not associated with the parade whatsoever. Overall, bring some hot chocolate, get in the holiday spirit and enjoy some memories that will last a lifetime. read more

This is a little nice place to take the kids during the holidays, it's a free event to watch the show , parking was a pain to find but once we found parking we were able to sit on our beach chairs and watch the show. All the boats were so cute they each had some type of theme and music very cute and adorable my little guy enjoyed it definitely will do it again . read more

Christmas Boat Parade - Festivals Near Me

First off, we parked on the street a little bit away from the parade which made it free parking (no need to park in places you have to pay). Second off, you HAVE to watch it from the Fun Zone where there is an old man DJ who is singing all of your favorite Christmas songs while the boats are passing you by (it's an ideal spot to see all of the boats in clear view too!). Make sure to get to the spot you want to stand/sit at early, get your food early if you need to. Make sure to dress warm, it does get cold. Other than that, enjoy the boat parade (it's one of the best!). read more

This year sucked. Went last night and it wasn't good. it was short. Not a lot of boats. There were not very many heavily decorated boats. Disneyland chartered 2 boats. The Electrical Parade is coming back to Disneyland. So there is that Supposed to be raining and stormy the next few days anyway. There have been way better years. I think this is the last time I will go watch the parade. If you are interested in being in the parade next year keep in mind that "they" keep raising the entrance fee. You don't have to pay to decorate your boat and follow the parade. Also something new this year is that the smell of weed wafting though the cool winter air as the boats crossed our paths. Thanks California for that. My opinion is keep your family and friends away this year. read more

Review for 103rd Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade Dec 14-18, 2011 The Christmas Boat Parade is a pretty neat thing to go to if you've never been. We opted to watch it at the Fun Zone area because it offered live commentary and was recommended for first time visitors. Parking in the lot was $25 and difficult to get to. We arrived at about 6p and it was super crowded. We dropped off the parents and backtracked to find metered parking about a mile away. $1 per hour up to 6 hours. By the time we walked back, the event was in its last 5 minutes. Although we were late, we could see the backs of the boats on the other side so it was kind of like we didn't really miss it. There were a few cool ones like a pirate ship and a giant Spongebob. My parents were able to see the whole thing and liked it. They thought it was also too short but enjoyed the lights and the boats. The parade in total only lasted about 30 minutes so it seemed like a lot of trouble to go to for such a short event. It seems as though the view is nice from anywhere in the harbor so no need to just go to the Fun Zone and if you can wait, go to one of the other areas with the later times. The best part is that it's free and fireworks on Sunday! read more

OMG I am so with Scott C. This is a let down! On the website you see people laughing carrying on and junk. A happy Santa's even there! Who doesn't want to join in on the fun, right? Wrong!!!!!!!!!! Well let me tell ya (hope you have a minute) there was no damn Santa on the boat. No nice wood paneling or a comfy bar to cozy up to. Well not on the boat I was on! First off the parking was horrendous I mean I arrived early 6:20. I thought it was early, but I guess that's late for this event. Finally I found a parking spot after an hour of driving thru the town pissing off residents and drivers alike! This spot was literally 1 mile away. This is no problem for me but when I spoke to these bozos on the phone I was told that there wasn't enough room for a stroller. So I listened like an idiot and didn't bring it. This meant that me, mom, sperm donor and baby are walking a mile to get to this boat. With a 1/2 hour to spare, Mom's got a bum leg and no cane were half way there and realize she's allllllllllll the way back behind us. Then we get to the pier and chaos ensues. We have no idea where the hell this place is. The pier is mad packed with people from all over (mom is from NY, she was excited & just wanted to see this parade on her trip to CA) finally found the effin LONG line only on accident I figured we all must be here for the same reason. Mean while attitudes are brewing (FYI New Yorkers never lose there attitude come with the territory) were ready to pitch a fit. Even other people were looking around like where do we go. Is this the SHIP? Then after all the confusion, bummed legs, attitudes, spilled milk etc. We get on the boat. OMG this freaking fishing boat that was like a box on water. The bar was so ridiculous. I have more liquor in my bar at home! (Well the liquor cabinet) and two hours later were cold and tired and not so excited. Yeah we saw boats and were on the water but the events that led up to it soured our mood and made the trip horrible. All in all I wasted 105.00 per head on this stupid trip it would have been better to just drive into town and watch from the side of the pier like every one else but you live and you learn right. I did however get a discount card on a future whale watching trip which I am going to use crazy as that sound but anyway truth be told you would have more fun just watching from the sidelines. Save your money and bring your own booze and leave the sperm donors behind! read more

This was a lot of fun, but I will admit up front that a good part of the reason we enjoyed it so much is that we happened to luck into free parking right near a good vantage point. Definitely would recommend getting there early enough to figure out what to do with the car so you don't miss anything. Assuming you can get that piece of the puzzle into place, then this is a wonderful local event. The ships were beautifully decorated (read somewhere that some people spend up to 50k to light up their ships!) and on Sunday night there is even a small fireworks show to wrap everything up! One caution: be sure to dress warmly enough, although that depends upon what your idea of cold is. For native Angelenos, freezing seems to be anything colder than about 55 degrees. For those of us who hail originally from far more foreboding climes, another part of the evening's fun was people-watching the spectators who clearly have no idea what "cold weather" really means! read more

I went last year and was thoroughly not impressed. I felt so silly having dragged my mom and sisters out to brave the chilly night for this waste of time. Maybe it is fun for the boaters but for bystanders, not so much. read more

It was quite a let down for my wife and I also who flew down from Sacramento

I participated in the boat parade this year, as my cousin has a boat in the Newport Beach Harbor. I really enjoyed the experience, and it wasn't as cold as we anticipated it to be Saturday night; although it drizzle a couple times on us but with the all the hype and excitement it really wasn't a factor. My husband and I took our 2 yr old godson, and he simply adored all the lights, the music, and the water. The parade was from 6-9 p.m. and we enjoyed every minute of it. It's a wonderful way to experience the holiday season whether by land or water...I'm so glad and grateful that we were able to experience it by water and be a part of this awesome experience. I hope to be able to return next year! Honorary Decorated Boats were the Christmas Tree Boat, Spongebob Squarepants, the Pirate Boat, and the Santa Boat; although there were really alot of nicely decorated boats. Also the houses along the parade route are just sick...these are some of the most beautiful homes and most of them beautifully decorated for the holiday season; even if it appeared that no one was home. loved Love LOVED this experience. If you ever attend try to get there atleast 30 mins before time...Jamboree gets really crowded during this time of year and it can make you late and miss alot of the festivities. read more

AMAZING PARADE! I can not believe the other reviews I just read??!! Do they realize the time and effort it takes to decorate those boats. And the time commitment to actually do the 21/2 HOUR Parade for 5 straight nights.....all volunteering their time to give the restaurants, the bars, and the spectators along the Parade Route the best lighted boat parade in the world! Seriously....voted "top 10 Christmas events in the Country by The New York Times" and recently made #2 in Yahoos Travel top ten list of Christmas Events in the U.S. My family and friends have made it a tradition every year....good times! And they can not control the weather!! read more

Can/should you take your own camp chairs to the Fun Zone in Newport Beach to view the boat parade?

Okay, now this year (2012), there have been some protests against the city so that there were not as many lights as the previous years. Well, I heard this on the news only after buying the non-cancelable travelzoo tickets for the boat ride. The boat and the service were nice enough but there were not many boats lit up, so 1.5 hour ride felt so long and boring. It also did not help to have some loud people with foul mouth on board. read more

I have attended this event every year, for the last 11 years. Our family looks forward to this, even with the stress of finding parking and waiting in long lines to get hot chocolate. It's beautiful! The homes are amazingly decorated, there are carolers singing and the boats are not only decorated over the top, the boaters waive hello and get the viewing crowd all fired up. You ooze happy holiday spirit. No room for Scrooges at this event. Now that brings me to 2012. At first, I thought maybe the Mayan prophecy was coming true and the world was ending! Many dark houses, no caroling, and OMG! The boats - so many little ones, white lights, and boring. I came home and started reading about current politics, with the proposed raising of the dock fees and the "proposed backlash". Everything I have read from the city indicates that this years event is "better than ever" and that, "we have more boats than last year". There is no way this is true...this year was a disappointment. Don't make the trip this year - not worth it. Hope the city and residents can resolve, so this beautiful holiday tradition can resume. read more