Boat parade themed coastally

Dane Grace

Newport Harbor will be a winter wonderland with a twist this holiday

season, thanks to a local resident who added a more coastal-flavored

theme to the 96-year-old event.

Helen McCarthy of Newport Beach chose “Winter Waterland” as the

theme for this year’s Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade, Dec. 15

through Dec. 19 in the harbor.

“The holidays are so festive,” said McCarthy, whose entry was

chosen by members of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce out of 45

submissions. “The bay houses are decorated with lights. It really is

a winter wonderland, so I just had fun with the play on words.”

The parade has had a theme for the past two years, but this year,

the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce held a contest for a member of

the community to create one. The chamber placed an advertisement in

the Daily Pilot calling for residents to come up with theme names and

ideas.

A “Christmas on the Beach” theme was chosen for 2003, and for

2002, the Chamber of Commerce designated a patriotic theme.

The night event features decorated yachts, canoes and kayaks as

they parade behind a lead boat through Newport Harbor. Attendees can

get space on a charter boat or watch from land. This year, entrants

are encouraged to decorate boats in a style that celebrates the

Christmas experience on the Southern California coast. Jeff Parker,

Chamber of Commerce vice president, said the community theme

selection was the next logical step in promoting the parade.

“I think it’s just another way for the community to get involved

with the parade,” Parker said. “This is such a big community event.

It just makes sense.”

McCarthy said her family has gone to the event for about 20 years,

though they’ve lived in Newport Beach for only six years.

“It’s inspirational,” McCarthy said. “I guess it’s one of the most

popular boat parades in the country. Thousands come from around the

country. It’s beautiful.”

The theme contest’s popularity will make it a new fixture in the

parade, Parker said.

“Helen was really excited about it,” Parker said. “We think this

is going to be a regular contest for the parade.”

This year will also feature the long route of the parade with a

three-day run -- Friday through Sunday, as opposed to running only on

the weekend -- and an ever-growing display of the “Ring of Lights.”

The “Ring of Lights” contest awards prizes to the decorated houses

that line Newport Harbor. This will mark the 15th year for the “Ring

of Lights,” and Parker said it gets bigger each year.

The commission is still in the planning phases of the parade, but

the program is coming together after a year of preparation. “It’s a

tall task,” Parker said. “We are really thankful for the volunteers

and the people that help out.”