OXNARD : Decking the Hulls With Holiday Cheer

They say that Christmas only comes once a year.

But not in Oxnard’s Mandalay Bay neighborhood.

About 10 dinghies festooned with garlands, lights and at least one Santa Claus cruised the canals of the 800-household marine neighborhood spreading some out-of-season holiday cheer Saturday.

“Christmas is so cold you can’t enjoy it, so we said, ‘Let’s just get crazy in the summer,’ ” said Skip Harkson, who has organized the event for the past five years.

Harkson, dressed in red pants and a green shirt, said the celebration also serves as a block party and gives neighbors a chance to visit.

The parade of decorated dinghies started from a dock near Oldham Circle about 7 p.m.

June Bandy said she and her husband, Doc, love the summer Yuletide celebration.

The couple rigged their dinghy with a white Christmas tree that twinkled with small lights powered by an on-board generator.

“We don’t just have Christmas in December,” said Bandy, her eyes alight beneath her red felt cap. “We have it all the time.”

Charlie Barton, dressed in a red nightshirt and stocking cap, said he has participated in the parade for three years because he just can’t wait for Christmas.

Barton said Christmas and Halloween are his favorite holidays.

“I think they should have two Halloweens a year,” he said, as Christmas carols blared from a speaker on the dock.

Barton, who said he came to the parade in drag last year, decorated his boat not only with holly and Christmas lights but with a giant, blowup beer bottle as well.

But the event was not only for people on the decorated boats.

Curious onlookers motored by in their boats. Some slowed to take photographs of the assorted characters.

Harkson said about 25 people had called to find out about the best vantage point to watch the parade.

Rene and George Aney of Sunland were camping in Ventura with their granddaughter Christine when they learned of the parade and headed over.

“We were interested to see what they had to offer,” Rene Aney said.

After striking up a quick friendship with one boat owner, they hopped aboard and joined the festivities.

Beverly Elder of Oxnard said she had come to watch the parade in years past.

“We love it,” she said. “It’s a real fun thing.”

Others were a tad more skeptical.

“It’s different,” said Rob Woodson, 24. “I’ll say that.”