Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade announces theme

The 102nd Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, the oldest holiday boat parade in the United States, has announced its theme as it prepares for its latest installment in 2010. “Lights, Camera…Christmas in Newport Beach” has been chosen as a unifying theme which will provide parade entries and design teams inspiration in celebration of the city’s long-time Hollywood connection, a place often recognized as the “Hamptons of Hollywood.” The hugely-popular Southern California holiday tradition kicks off Wednesday, Dec. 15th, in Newport Harbor and continues each night through Sunday, Dec. 19th, 2010.

The dazzling parade features an armada of nearly 100 festively lit and decorated boats – ranging from small skiffs and kayaks to enormous multimillion dollar yachts. The colorful, twinkling parade winds its way nearly 14 miles around the harbor to give viewers in restaurants, yacht clubs, on public beaches, and in private homes an incredible sight.

Since 1908, when a lone gondolier traversed Newport Harbor in a lantern-lit Gondola, the tradition has delighted millions, reaching impressive figures in recent years. There are over 20 holiday boat parades from coast to coast across the U.S. but the Newport Beach water-borne pageant trumps them all for enduring and remaining popular over the past ten decades. The parade has been described as the aquatic equivalent to the spectacle of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or the Pasadena Tournament of Roses.

About Newport Beach
Known for its picturesque views of the Pacific and one of the world’s largest small yacht harbors, Newport Beach is a chic seaside community located on Southern California’s Orange County coastline between Los Angeles and San Diego. The city is acclaimed for its beaches, mild year-round weather, boating/yachting community, sophisticated atmosphere, international film festival, three annual epicurean festivals and the oldest holiday boat parade in the nation. Newport Beach was named “One of the top ten resort towns in the U.S” by AOL Travel in 2008. For additional travel information, please call (800) 94-COAST or visit us online at www.visitnewportbeach.com.