45th Annual Boat Parade of Lights

The holiday season is finally upon us, and with it the holiday spirit. The city of Dana Point is getting in on the holiday festivities that are blooming this time of year through their 45th Annual Boat Parade of Lights, which took place on Friday and Saturday Dec. 6 and 7, and the following weekend, Dec. 13 and 14. This parade is one of the many festivities that individuals were able to take part in on at Dana Point Harbor’s “Happy Harbor Days” celebration.

These harbor festivities spanned from walking through the harbor and admiring all the amazing light creations, taking a boat ride and pictures with Santa and his holiday helpers and participating in the boat parade. The luminescent lineup of 80 boats was packed full of a combination of newcomers and veteran vessels.

The oldest fishing boat in the harbor, “Reel Fun,” has been to every single boat light parade hosted by Dana Harbor, and has been docked in this location since the harbor opened in 1971.

The festive atmosphere has definitely attracted a lot of attention this year. As the dazzling lights covering the festive boats in island-themed designs shimmered along the calm harbor water, onlookers watched from their boats, the harbor walkways, the island way bridges and even from their paddle boards.

The amount of residents that flocked to Dana Harbor in order to watch the 45 year old Dana Point tradition (hundreds) was truly astonishing to say the least, as the crowds were so immense that it was nearly impossible to squeeze through the sea of bundled up southern Californians to grab a nice cup of hot cocoa.

It is easy to say that Dana Point Harbor and all of its visitors are very familiar with the holiday spirit, as it was so poignant within all of the parade-goers that one could not help but smile and shout “Happy Holidays” back to the crowds of jolly spectators.

It is safe to say that the holiday spirit did not skip out on Dana Point this year.