Let's hope Santa doesn't get seasick.
The 66th Annual Naples Holiday Boat Parade is Saturday evening through the canals of the three residential islands, and around Alamitos Bay. This year's theme is "A Holiday Salute to Our Olympians."
At 6 p.m., the Big Boat Parade will kick off and at 6:45 p.m. the Small Boat Parade will start. at 6:45 p.m.
Streets leading onto to the Naples Island neighborhood are closed at 5 p.m. and spectators are advised to arrive early for parking.
(We suggest you get the Belmont Shore neighborhood and plan to grab something to eat or shop until parade time nears. Parking spots on the Island, Long Beach Peninsula and Belmont Shore streets that front Alamitos Bay are always scarce. If you are capable of walking a few blocks, we suggest you park at the marinas or beach lots and walk into Naples or Alamitos Bay streets).
The Big Boat Parade will begin at Naples Plaza Park while the Small Boat Parade vessels stage at Marine Stadium, and both pieces of the parade follow slightly different courses for safety and because the taller boats won't clear the bridges.
Along the way, the Parade will pass the 2nd Street bridge, the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, and the Long Beach Yacht Club, among other stops.
If you are among the throngs who stroll through the canals to ogle the astonishing lights and decorations on the waterfront houses, post photos to this story If the house lights are yours, you might win our Patch Deck the House contest. You might win $100,000 for Long Beach Unified School District and your electricity bill paid for half a year.
When deciding where to watch the parade remember public restrooms. There is only one set on Naples Island and it is at Mother's Beach, on the north side of Second Street. But porta-potties will be located at Naples Elementary School, at The Colonnade (by the fountain, reached on Revenna) and the large parking lot at Appian Way and the Long Beach Yacht Club.
Those wishing to see both Parades can view from the 2nd Street Bridge, the Appian Way Bridge and along Alamitos Bay Marina, and the Small Boat Parade can be viewed from the bridges and along the canals around Naples Island.
In addition to the the Parade, carolers will be found singing holiday songs by the bridges and along the canal sidewalks.
Check out a few of our photos and videos from parades of yore, and you can see galleries of the Boat Parade, sponsored by McKenna's on the Bay and by the Port of Long Beach, the Naples , the parade's official website. They have a nice list of commonly asked questions , which is very helpful in finding your best viewing location and other tips and rules.
And stay connected to Patch for any parade updates and other breaking news alerts by signing up for our morning newsletter, or following us on Facebook and Twitter.
