FESTIVALS & EVENTS : For Those Who Love a Parade . . .

Orange County’s holiday parade season continues this weekend, both in and out of the water, and sails right into next week.

First up is the annual boat parade in Dana Point Harbor, Friday and Saturday nights. About 50 decorated boats of all types will line up in the harbor at 7:30 p.m. and begin parading at 8, for about an hour. The parade should be visible from all points in the harbor.

On land, the South County Holiday Parade will hit the streets of Laguna Niguel Saturday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The two-hour parade will move south on Crown Valley Parkway from Nueva Vista Drive to Niguel Road. Following the parade, there will be an all-day festival at Crown Valley Community Park (near the end of the parade route) with food, entertainment and craft booths.

Now in its fourth year, the parade will have television news anchor Jess Marlow as grand marshal, and will include more than 20 high school marching bands, 15 equestrian units and the 3rd Marine Air Wing Band from the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. Organizers expect more than 15,000 spectators.

Back on the water, the Huntington Harbour Boat Parade will take place Saturday and Sunday. About 40 decorated boats will begin making their way through the main channel at 5:30 p.m. Public viewing sites include the bridges at Warner Avenue and Humboldt Drive, and on the beach at the end of Edinger Avenue.

That parade is a prelude to the annual Cruise of Lights, beginning Tuesday and running through Dec. 22, which offers boat cruises through the harbor and past waterfront homes decorated for the holidays. The hourly cruises depart four times nightly beginning at 5:30 p.m. Some cruise times are already sold out.

The Newport Beach Boat Parade, in its 85th year, will run from Dec. 17 to Dec. 23, beginning at 6:30 each evening and continuing for about 2 1/2 hours. About 200 light-festooned boats ranging from kayaks to yachts will make their way through the harbor each night, starting at Collins Isle (at the western tip of Balboa Island).

Waterfront restaurants and other spots along the harbor will offer views of the parade. Grandstand viewing will also be available for a fee (see below).

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* For information on the Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade, call (714) 496-5794.

* For information on the South County Holiday Parade, call (714) 362-4300.

* Tickets for the Cruise of Lights are $5 for children 12 and under, $8.50 to $9.50 for adults. For cruise tickets and information, or details on the Huntington Harbour Boat Parade, call (714) 840-7542.

* Grandstand tickets for the Newport Beach Boat Parade are $4 and $5. Call (714) 673-5070 for tickets; (714) 729-4400 for parade information.