Boat Parade and Parties Take Harbour by Storm

“I knew it would be nice today--I had faith,” said Dr. Burt Willis on Saturday afternoon, as a shaft of sunlight pierced the dark clouds above Huntington Harbour.

“Well, OK. I was a little worried. In fact, I’ve never listened to so many weather broadcasts in my life.”

Minutes before, a downpour sent organizers of the Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Committee’s boat parade into a tizzy. More than 60 decorated yachts were ready to participate in the flotilla that annually launches the Cruise of Lights, a series of harbor boat tours that raise $100,000 for the Orange County Philharmonic Society.

The rain they could handle, but would it accompanied by high winds or, worse, fog?

Said boat parade chairwoman Jo Ann Busby: “When the rain hit, my phone started ringing off the hook. My committee wanted to know: ‘Did I use the wrong wand?’

“You see, when we had our first committee meeting last May, I waved a wand and sprinkled magic dust over everybody so we’d have perfect weather. I did the same thing at a meeting two weeks ago.”

Rain alone wouldn’t keep the two-night parade from hitting the harbor waterways, said Willis, the parade’s grand marshal.

But it sure slows down the party scene. “I hate to think of all of those people who are having to bring their boat parade parties inside.”

Like Mario and Diane Antoci. “Minutes before the downpour, we made a decision to bring our party tables into the house,” said Diane, taking a break from preparations in her Italian Villa-style home. “We’re so lucky. Soggy tablecloths do not make for a fun dinner party.”

The Antocis, who provided their 58-foot Spindrifter for Willis to lead the parade, were having 100 guests for dinner. “Tonight, we’re staying home and watching the parade and tomorrow night we’ll be in it,” said Mario, who is chairman and CEO of American Savings in Irvine and a board member of the Philharmonic society.

Whispered Diane: “Mario is a nervous wreck about having to move the party inside. And I think if I’d planned the party this way, he may not have gone for it. But, I’m sure it will be a success.” (Thanks, in part, to a quick hop by Diane to Home Depot where she picked up several small faux Oriental rugs so guests could wipe their feet.)

Before boarding the Antoci yacht, Willis, a pediatrician, shared that he was especially proud of the area residents’ response to the parade’s theme, “Magic of Childhood.”

“I introduced the idea to the Philharmonic board and they went for it,” he said. “I thought this would be a nice way to focus on children and their needs in our society.

“People have gone all out in decorating their boats and homes. They’ve got everything from dinosaurs on their docks to toy soldiers on their rooftops. The Rockwell yacht features astronaut Buzz Aldrin and a mock-up of the space shuttle. And everywhere you look, there’s animation; it creates a wonderful feeling of magic.”

Said Eva Kilgore, Cruise of Lights chairwoman (and wife of KFWB newscaster Lyle Kilgore): “About 19,000 people will be going on our Cruise of Lights this year. And what they’re going to see is out of this world--homes like the Antocis’ (who won the Sweepstakes prize) that features the genie from ‘Aladdin’ and homes where figures like Mr. and Mrs. Claus are 30 feet high.

“One house shows a huge Santa reeling in a marlin. Another one has dinosaurs lining its dock. And the best part, for all of us, is that more children will be taking the tour this year than ever before.”

Cruises, which are 45 minutes in length, begin on Monday and continue through Dec. 22. They occur nightly at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30. Adult tickets, Monday through Thursday, are $8.50. On Sunday, they are $9.50. Children’s tickets are $5. All tickets must be purchased in advance. Call (714) 840-7542.