The Huntington Harbour Boat Parade is a favourite holiday event in Orange County. It runs annually in early December, bringing lots of joy and Christmas spirit to a surf town. Thousands watch festively decorated boats pass through the Huntington Harbour—each of them is unique and sparkles with hundreds of LEDs.
The holiday tradition began in the 1960s, with just twelve boats. Now the show features over 75 brightly-lit vessels. Huntington Beach homes are usually also lavishly decorated for the season providing a beautiful backdrop for the parade.
Each year, a new theme is selected for the parade. It starts at about 5 p.m., and the best free viewing spots include Seabridge Park and Huntington Harbour bridges. The Boat Parade kicks off the Cruise of Lights, a fundraiser for music education in Orange County schools. The Boat Parade and the Cruise of Lights are organized by the Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Committee. You can watch or decorate your boat and participate.
