Holiday Boat Parades--Morro Bay to Chula Vista

Harbors throughout Southern California will be ablaze with Christmas lights this month as holiday boat parades cruise up and down the waterways.

The parades are a way to celebrate the winter holidays California-style. Here’s where the boat parades can be found from north to south:

Morro Bay--The activities in the harbor Sunday will begin with the 4:30 p.m. lighting of the city’s Christmas tree at Morro Bay City Park, corner of Morro Bay Boulevard and Harbor Street. The boats will line up at Tidelands Park at 6:30 p.m. and start parading at 7 p.m. They will travel up the Embarcadero to Morro Rock before turning around.

Last year there were 28 participating boats.

The parade can be viewed from anywhere along the Embarcadero (especially from the warmth of the waterfront restaurants). Information: (805) 772-1214.

Santa Barbara--About 50 boats are expected in the parade at 6 p.m. Dec. 18. The boats will leave the harbor and head for East Beach, go around Stearn’s Wharf, then back to the harbor.

Stearn’s Wharf and the beaches east of the harbor are the best viewing spots. Information: (805) 962-2826.

Ventura--”A Christmas Wish” is the theme of this parade at 7 p.m. next Saturday. Organized by the Ventura Port District, about 30 boats are expected.

The boats will parade throughout the entire harbor. The best viewing areas are Ventura Harbor Village, the sidewalk between Ventura Yacht Club and the National Park Service and the launch ramp area. Information: (805) 642-8538.

Oxnard--Actor George Kennedy will be the grand marshal of Oxnard’s 23rd annual Parade of Lights in Channel Islands Harbor today at 7 p.m. The theme this year is “A Christmas to Remember.”

The parade is limited to 40 boats (from 25 to 50 feet). They will circle the harbor twice and can be seen all along the waterfront. An awards ceremony will follow in Harbor Landing. Information: (805) 985-4852.

Marina del Rey--Meanwhile, down the coast, actress Cloris Leachman will be grand marshal of the 26th annual Marina del Rey parade at 5:30 p.m. today. The theme of “Christmas Dreams” will be carried by the vessels, which are expected to number about 100.

The best public viewing areas are at the north and south jetties (accessible from Pacific Avenue and Vista del Mar, respectively), Burton Chace Park and Fisherman’s Village on Fiji Way. Information: (213) 821-7614.

Redondo Beach--No parade is planned for Redondo Beach’s King Harbor, but many of the boats moored at the Portofino, Port Royal and King Harbor marinas competed Thursday in a decorating contest that was organized by the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce and the King Harbor Assn.

The boats have been urged to keep their lights up for public viewing throughout the month. Information: (213) 318-0630.

Los Angeles--It’s the silver anniversary of Los Angeles Harbor’s boat parade, which will begin at 7 p.m. today in San Pedro.

The expected 50,000 spectators will line the wharves of Ports o’ Call Village and other vantage points along the port’s Main Channel to watch the procession of 50 or more vessels.

The boat parade is co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Harbor Department and the Los Angeles Christmas Afloat Committee. Information: (213) 519-3505.

Long Beach--Shoreline Yacht Club is organizing next Saturday’s parade. The boats will gather off oil island Grissom near the entrance to Shoreline Marina at 7 p.m.

About 50 vessels will take a circular route in the harbor, passing by the Shoreline Village marina and the Queen Mary, both of which make excellent viewing areas. Information: (213) 435-4093.

Naples--Today’s 43rd annual parade is made up of two routes. The small boats (with an 8-foot clearance) will assemble off Mothers Beach on Appian Way at 6 p.m.

The large boats will gather at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, 7201 E. Ocean Blvd., at 7 p.m.

The small boats will travel under the Second Street bridge and around Treasure Island, through the canals in a counterclockwise direction and along the bay front, where they will disperse at Long Beach Yacht Club, 6201 Appian Way.

The large boats will travel in a counterclockwise direction around the perimeter of the bay to the Davis bridge before turning around and passing back in front of Long Beach Yacht Club.

Sixty boats are expected. The most accessible areas for viewing are anywhere along Bayshore Avenue and at the Long Beach Marina off Marina Drive. All the streets south of 2nd Street will be closed to outside traffic after 5 p.m. Information: (213) 598-0541.

Huntington Harbour--The Symphony of Lights Boat Parade, themed “Musical Memories,” will start at 5:15 p.m. today and Sunday. Sponsored by the Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Society, the parade is expected to attract more than 70 yachts.

The boats will gather in front of Huntington Harbour Yacht Club, 3821 Warner Ave. They will proceed on a four-hour tour through the channels, past Coral Cay Island, Davenport Island, Humboldt Island, Trinidad Island and the Shell fuel dock, before returning past Admiralty and Gilbert islands to the yacht club. Information: (714) 840-7542.

The parade is the kickoff event for the Philharmonic Society’s public boat tours of the decorated luxury homes that line the shores of the exclusive harbor. The “Cruise of Lights” will be given four times nightly from Wednesday through Dec. 22. Tickets for a ride on the 100-foot charter boats are $7 for adults; $4 for children 12 and younger. For information call (714) 840-7545 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Newport Beach--The 80th annual Newport Beach parade, performed nightly next Saturday through Dec. 23, will begin at 6:30 p.m. each evening. Up to 200 boats are expected to gather off Collins Island and circumnavigate the harbor in a counterclockwise direction.

Spectator tickets are being sold for a grandstand viewing area, at the Sea Scout Base on Pacific Coast Highway. Spectators also can reserve tickets by telephone: (714) 644-6701. Cost (includes shuttle): adults, $6; seniors and groups, $5; children 12 and younger, $4. Tickets not reserved by 5:30 p.m. the day of the parade will be sold at the grandstand. The shuttle service runs from Ford Aerospace parking lot on Jamboree Road to the grandstands. Information: (714) 644-8211.

Dana Point--Friday’s fete will be repeated today when the 14th annual Dana Point parade “100 Years of Christmas” gets under way at dusk.

The boats will gather outside the harbor, travel in past the Harbor Patrol office, through the east and west basins, then make a U-turn and go back to the starting point. Information: (714) 496-5794.

Oceanside--The annual parade will begin at 7 p.m. next Saturday. Boaters will come up with individual themes.

The boats will start out in the turning basin and make two complete circuits of the harbor. Good viewing from anywhere in the harbor.

The parade is sponsored jointly by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, Oceanside Yacht Club and the Santa Margarita Sailing Club. Information: (619) 722-5751.

Mission Bay--The parade will start at 7 p.m. next Saturday in Mission Bay, opposite the Islandia Hotel outside Quivira Basin. Boats will travel clockwise around Sail Bay, under the South Ingraham Street bridge, around Fiesta Bay and end up at Sea World.

The parade is sponsored by the Mission Bay Yacht Club and San Diego and Mission Bay Boat and Ski Club. Information: (619) 488-0501.

San Diego Bay--The 17th annual parade will begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 18. The expected 120-boat procession will begin at the southwest end of Shelter Island, near the Navy fuel pier, and travel northeast along Shelter Island, Harbor Island and the Embarcadero, before finishing at Campbell’s Marine.

The parade is being organized by the Greater Shelter Island Assn. Information: (619) 222-0561, Ext. 307.

Chula Vista--The fifth annual Chula Vista parade next Saturday in South San Diego Bay is themed “Christmas and All That Jazz.”

A jazz concert a Bayside Park at 5 p.m. will be followed by the parade at 6 p.m. The boats will start from Coronado and head across the bay to National City before turning south to the Chula Vista Marina.

The best viewing areas will be Bayside Park, 24th Street in National City and the Naval Amphibious Base on Coronado.

Fireworks will explode simultaneously in Chula Vista, National City and Coronado when the last boat finishes. Information: (619) 691-1860.