St. Nick waves to spectators from the back of a vessel -- complete with lighted palm tree and reindeer -- at the Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade in 2004. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
Boats decorated for the season light up the night in San Pedro at the 2004 Los Angeles Harbor Holidays Afloat Parade. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
“Every night is a party here,” says Newport Beach’s Gay Wassall-Kelly, who wears a Christmas tree dress. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
Boats, decorated in a holiday theme, parade along the Venice canals in the 2005 Venice Boat Parade of Lights. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
“This is a wonderful community event,” said Balboa Island resident Terry Donahue, the former UCLA football coach, in 2005. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
An unperturbed Santa Claus floats along during the kick-off Wednesday of the 99th annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in 2007. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Boats cruise the waters in the 32nd Annual Boat parade of Lights in the Dana Point Harbor in 2006. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)
Boaters from all around Orange County decorate their boats and vie for awards at the Dana Point parade. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)
The 2007 Newport Beach parade’s theme was “Twas The Lights Before Christmas.” (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
More than 100 boats decorated and lit for the holidays cruise the 14-miles of waterways around Newport Harbor during the annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Boats cruise the waters in the 2006 Boat Parade of Lights in the Dana Point Harbor. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)
