San Diego’s Beautiful Parade of Lights

In the month of December as a prelude to the Christmas season, the rolling waters of the San Diego Bay flow like black velvet. This serene landscape is the perfect backdrop for the spectacular Parade of Lights. Every year on two consecutive Sundays in December, crowds gather to take part in a beautiful and joyous holiday celebration on the bay.

Events before the parade include the “Star of India,” a dinner event aboard an attractive yacht right on the bay. Here, a classy but casual gala is held to celebrate the coming parade. Guests can get a close up look at some of the beautifully decorated boats that will participate in the event. Reservations are necessary if you want to attend this exclusive dinner event. There is also an exciting fireworks show, which is held right before the parade starts. The dazzling show of fireworks starts the night off with a bang and gets everyone in the mood to see the highly anticipated parade.

As the fireworks fade, dozens of boats light up to reveal brilliantly strung lights and intricate decorations. The numerous boats glide through the waters, the colorful lights reflecting off the bay and awing the crowds looking on. The parade begins at Shelter Island and lasts for about one and a half hours. From land, the boats are best seen from Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, and last at the ferry landing at Coronado. Harbor Island can be particularly crowded, so if you plan on watching the parade from this location, arrive early because good parking will be difficult to find. For views from the water, boats near the 10th Street Terminal will get the best views of the parade.

Decorated boats participating in the Parade of Lights compete for eleven separate awards. Awards categories include music, lighting, special effects, and originality. Although less than a dozen awards are handed out, every boat in the parade brings an element of beauty to the event and spreads the warmth of holiday cheer to everyone watching.

For more information and the upcoming December schedule visit the San Diego Parade of Lights website.