If you aren't already in the holiday spirit, this year's San Diego Bay Parade of Lights may be the perfect event for you.
On Sunday, Dec. 8, and Sunday, Dec. 15, the highly-anticipated annual event — filled with around 80 boats decked out in holiday decorations and spectacular lights — will return for its 54th year.
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The free spectacle draws in more than 100,000 San Diegans and visitors to the bay's waterfront each year, according to the parade's website.
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"I think it's iconic," Larry Bauman, chairman of the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, told NBC 7 on Thursday. "Families enjoy it, it's free to the public to view, and it's the boating community's gift to San Diego."
Every year has a new theme, which inspires the vessel decorations. This year's theme is "Peace on Earth." Previous themes include "Christmas Traditions Around the World" and "FantaSEA on the Bay."
"The volunteer committee agonizes over a year picking a theme because they want it to be memorable," Bauman said. "They want it to be easy to the boaters to decorate to, and I think we picked a great one for the year."
The Parade of Lights begins at 5:30 p.m. on both days at Shelter Island and embarks on a one-and-a-half to two-hour journey through Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, Cesar Chavez Park Pier and the Ferry Landing on Coronado.
Here are the holiday boat parade's estimate arrival times for these locations:
- Shelter Island: 5:30 p.m.
- Harbor Island: 6:15 p.m.
- The Embarcadero: 6:45 p.m.
- Seaport Village: 7:15 p.m.
- The Pier at Cesar Chavez Park: 7:30 p.m.
- Ferry Landing on Coronado: 7:45 p.m.
Bauman advises people plan ahead and arrive early since parking can be challenging during the event.
If you'd like to join the parade on your boat, click here.
