Parade judging is their little secret

June Casagrande

Among the hundreds of thousands of people enjoying the Christmas Boat

Parade this year are about 32 people with more pull than most.

For two nights of the parade’s five-night run, they gather at a

secret location on the shore and, clipboards in hand, they rate what

they see.

The judges of the annual Christmas Boat Parade try to keep a bit

of secrecy to the proceedings but, judge Seymour Beek said, “If you

hired a private investigator, I don’t think you’d have too much

trouble figuring it all out.”

For example, it wasn’t hard to figure out on Friday that the

judging was already complete once the chamber sent out its list of

winners.

Even when not-so-well-guarded, the secrecy serves a purpose, said

Richard Luehrs, president of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce,

whose Commodores Club puts on the parade and oversees the judging: If

participants don’t know what night the judging will take place,

they’re more likely to take part in the parade every night. And that

just adds to the chamber’s goal of putting on the best parade

possible.

“It really becomes a spectator’s delight because you can see the

effort that the boat owners put in, and that helps make the parade

something very special,” Luehrs said.

Boats are judged in a number of categories, including best take on

the parade theme, which this year is “A Christmas Beach Celebration.”

Other categories are best use of lights and animation, best music and

best humor and originality.

The judges are each assigned to a category. Scorecards in hand,

they watch the passing boats, taking note of their entry numbers and

grading how well the decorations dazzle.

The winners receive the best prize the chamber can give them,

recognition, because, as Luehrs put it, “What else can you give

someone who owns a big yacht and spends $50,000 decorating it?”

Winners take part in a champagne reception in their honor and an

awards dinner, and they each receive a photo of their vessel along

with a plaque and “our sincere thanks,” Luehrs said.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

[email protected].