Boatloads of light reign

Jeff Benson

For the umpteenth year in a row, it doesn’t look like Newport Beach

is getting any snow. But the residents aren’t surprised by this news

and will, once again, make due with what they’ve got: lots and lots

of water.

“A Winter Waterland” is the theme of the Newport Beach Chamber of

Commerce’s 96th annual Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade, which

began lighting up the areas around Balboa Island, Lido Isle and

Balboa Peninsula Wednesday night.

About 150 lighted dinghies, yachts, sailboats and canoes will also

cruise around the harbor from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today and Friday and

from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, because of an extended

weekend route. Thousands are expected to attend the five-day event.

Some of the boats have stuck to the simple Santa Claus decorations

and red and green lights, while others carry carolers, play music and

have animated scenes.

Costa Mesa residents Norman Lacourciere and Laurie Lairson had

plenty of room to watch the colorful boats from Collins Island, near

the start of the 14-mile route, which winds around Lido Isle, hugs

Balboa Peninsula and circles around Balboa Island before finishing

back at Collins.

“I came from the East Coast, and we don’t have anything like

this,” Lacourciere said. “I’m going to e-mail a bunch of photos to my

kids. They did a marvelous job, these people.”

Lairson said she’s watched the parade from the same shore-side

spot for 10 years.

“I’ve never seen one this spectacular,” Lairson said. “I try to

come early every year, and every year it gets better.”

One boat that sparked their interest was a yacht -- “El Navegante”

-- with hundreds of lights in the shape of bright-green palm trees

and a twinkling, yellow sun. Santa was even fishing off the back end

-- quite possibly for rockfish, which are really biting this time of

year.

Another boat blared a steel guitar “island” version of “Sleigh

Ride” and other holiday songs as people waved to the crowds from its

stern.

But boat owners didn’t have all the fun. Balboa resident

Antionette Bazarewski said residents on the beachfront traditionally

leave their curtains open to show off their lighted Christmas trees

to people walking by.

Several bayside residents have also had their homes judged for

awards through Prudential California Realty’s “Ring of Lights”

contest.

“I’ve lived on the island for 15 or 16 years, and this is pretty

exciting as far as festivities go,” Bazarewski said. “I’d say the

first two days are slower, but it should pick up over the weekend.”

It was the first boat parade for her fiance, Clay Creel of San

Diego, who said he’d even heard about the parade when he worked in

Texas earlier in the year.

“This is probably the most festive area I’ve been to in Southern

California,” Creel said. “It’s amazing how far the notoriety has

gotten it.”

Winners of the Boat Parade and Ring of Lights competitions will be

announced at the annual Awards Dinner and Auction Jan. 21 at the

Balboa Bay Club & Resort in Newport Beach. The public event will

feature entertainment, dancing and live and silent auctions.

* JEFF BENSON covers education and may be reached at (714)

966-4617 or by e-mail at [email protected].