🎄 Parades & tree lightings
Holiday boat parades & lightings
Curated by Simir Shah
9 spots across Southern California — add your zip or city to sort by what's closest to you
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
Newport Beach
One of the country's oldest holiday traditions — 100+ lit yachts cruise a 14-mile harbor route nightly, with easy free viewing from the Balboa Peninsula.
🗓️ Late Nov–Dec
Anaheim Nutcracker Tree Lighting & Holiday Village
Anaheim
Anaheim's free civic tree lighting with Santa photos, vendors and a kids' contest in walkable downtown (not inside Disneyland).
🗓️ Late Nov–Dec
Huntington Harbour Cruise of Lights
Huntington Beach
Watch the free parade from Seabridge Park, or buy a narrated tour-boat ride past lit waterfront homes — proceeds fund youth music programs.
🗓️ Late Nov–Dec
Naples Island Christmas Boat Parade
Long Beach
A charming, walkable canal parade — stand on the little footbridges and watch decorated boats glide right past you.
🗓️ Late Nov–Dec
The Grove Christmas Tree Lighting
Los Angeles
A 100-foot tree with 300,000 lights, fake snowfall, Santa, drones and fireworks — a full holiday show in an easy outdoor setting.
🗓️ Late Nov–Dec
Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade
Marina del Rey
Burton Chace Park hosts free landside festivities with the lit-boat parade and a pre-parade light show on the water.
🗓️ Late Nov–Dec
Balboa Park December Nights
San Diego
California's biggest free holiday festival — a ceremonial tree lighting plus free museum entry, performances and food vendors.
🗓️ Late Nov–Dec
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
San Diego
Around 80 decorated boats parade across the bay on two Sundays — Seaport Village and the Embarcadero give kids wide-open waterfront views.
🗓️ Late Nov–Dec
Channel Islands Harbor Parade of Lights
Oxnard
All-day harbor fun before the evening parade — a reindeer paddle and holiday market make it a full family afternoon.
🗓️ Late Nov–Dec
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade?
It's one of the country's oldest holiday traditions — 100+ decorated, lit boats cruise a 14-mile route through Newport Harbor over several nights in December, with free viewing from the Balboa Peninsula and the surrounding waterfront. Other great SoCal boat parades include the Huntington Harbour Cruise of Lights, the Naples canal parade in Long Beach, and the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights.
Are holiday boat parades and tree lightings free?
Yes — viewing the boat parades from shore and attending the civic tree lightings (The Grove, Anaheim, Balboa Park December Nights) is free. Some parades sell narrated tour-boat rides if you want to be on the water. Looking for neighborhood light displays instead? See our Christmas lights guide.