Newport Beach boat parade and Ring of Lights winners to celebrate at public gala Jan. 26

It’s mid-January, but organizers of the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade are still in the holiday spirit.

The Chamber of Commerce, which put on the Newport Harbor tradition Dec. 13-17, will honor the winners of the 2017 parade and the companion Ring of Lights waterfront home decorating contest at an awards dinner and auction gala Jan. 26 at the Fashion Island Hotel, formerly the Island Hotel, at 690 Newport Center Drive.

The gala is open to the public and includes a cocktail reception, a four-course dinner with wine, dancing and silent and live auctions with items such as jewelry, art, fine dining and travel excursions.

Individual tickets are $125. The auction begins at 6 p.m.

To register or donate an auction item, visit christmasboatparade.com/awards-dinner-and-auction.

Here are the award winners:

Boat parade (boat name followed by entrant name)

• Sweepstakes: The Last Hurrah, Rob and Elizabeth Meadows
• Non-commercial Sweepstakes: Paradise Found, Greg Killingsworth
• Best Powerboat: El Navegante, Joe Achten
• Best Sailboat: Traveler, Michael and Barbara Lawler
• Best Boat Under 30 Feet: The Rose Maria, Ron and Rose Cram
• Lights, first place: Hang Time, Landon Martin
• Lights, second place: Charisma, Debi Marshal
• Lights, third place: On the Rocks, Guy La Rocque
• Humor and Originality, first place: Sea Schooner, Travis Petty
• Humor and Originality, second place: Seaswirl, Steve Shimahara
• Humor and Originality, third place: #LighttheWorld, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Animation and Special Effects, first place: Quintena, Paul Fruchbom
• Animation and Special Effects, second place: Seas the Day, Michael Lohman
• Animation and Special Effects, third place: Two are Better Than One, Kyle Miller
• Best Music: Drummer Boy, David May
• Best First-Time Entry: Drummer Boy, David May
• Best Yacht Club Entry: Quintena, Paul Fruchbom
• Yacht Club with Most Entries: Newport Harbor Yacht Club (four)

Ring of Lights

• Sweepstakes (best overall): Viviana and Bruce Fabrizio, 1407 Bayside Drive
• Lights and Animation, first place: Shirley Pepys, 526 S. Bay Front
• Lights and Animation, second place: Dennis and Patty Vitarelli, 140 S. Bay Front
• Best Theme: Geoffrey Wickett, 309 E. Bay Front
• Chairman’s Choice: Mike and Laurie Gray, 309 Via Lido Soud
• Best Traditional Lights: Robert and Christyne Olson, 351 E. Bay Front
• “Green” Entry Award: Reg and Michelle DelPonte, 8 Harbor Island
• Photographer’s Choice: Phil and Mary Lyons, 36 Harbor Island
• Humor and Originality: Marcy Cook, 538 S. Bay Front
• Rookie Award: Jeanne Lewand, 343 E. Bay Front
• Best on Lido: David MacIntyre (Sasco), 101 Via Lido Soud
• Best on Peninsula: Laurie and Bill Peterson, 1020 E. Balboa Blvd.
• Founder’s Award: Barry and Karen Meguiar, 201 N. Bay Front
• Stunews Award: Jim and Judy Busby, 111 E. Bay Front
• Best Yacht Club: Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, 1601 Bayside Drive
• Hi Tech Christmas Charm: Jim and Peggy Rich, 802 S. Bay Front
• Judge’s Award, first place: Donna DiBari, 710 S. Bay Front
• Judge’s Award, second place: Janet Curci, 808 S. Bay Front

hillary.davis@latimes.com

Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD