Illuminated boat parades are a great holiday tradition of Southern California. Without snow and ice, this is what Golden State's Christmas looks like. Waterfront restaurants and cafes are booked a long time in advance by spectators. Parking is very hard to find on the parade night. Naples Island in Long Beach is about an hour's drive from LA, and it hosts one of these sparkling events.
Large boats decorated with lights, parade along the peninsula at 6 pm. Small boats float through at 6:30 pm from the Appian Way Bridge. Interestingly enough, large and small boats go in opposite directions. The best spots to view the parade are bridges and waterfronts along the canals around Naples Island. The 2nd Street Bridge, Appian Way Bridge, and Alamitos Bay Marina are good locations to see larger boats. You can, however, see the parade from a restaurant, so feel free to get up from your seats a walk to the parade. Houses on the Naples Island are famous for extraordinary displays of Christmas and Hanukkah lights. It makes the island a great Christmas destination in Southern California.
Parking
If you wonder what parking options there are, don't worry, we've got you covered. Alamitos Bay Marina offers a huge (and free) parking lot. You can also find parking spots at Mothers Beach off Ravenna, Appian Way, and Ocean Boulevard.
How to get to Naples?
Getting to the Naples Island is a piece of cake. If you're coming from the North, exit the 405 at Studebaker. However, if you're heading from the South, you should exit the 7th Street and then turn on Studebaker. After the Pacific Coast Highway (the second light), go straight over the Davies Bridge and you'll arrive at your destination!
