Opening of Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade accompanied by show in sky
Decorated boats cruise the harbor during the 115th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Will O’Neill, who returned to his former role as the city’s mayor a night earlier, welcomed two Hallmark Channel actors as the grand marshals of the 115th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade on Wednesday, Dec. 13.
He mentioned that he grew up in Fresno and became the mayor of Newport Beach. “I’ve been told tonight it’s the opposite of a Hallmark movie,” he joked with actors Andrew Walker and Nikki Deloach and a crowd at Marina Park.
Decorated boats cruise the harbor during the 115th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Decorated boats cruise the harbor during the 115th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fireworks explode over the Newport Pier before the 115th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Decorated boats cruise the harbor during the 115th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Decorated boats cruise the harbor during the 115th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Decorated boats cruise the harbor during the 115th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fireworks explode over the Newport Pier before the 115th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Decorated boats cruise the harbor during the 115th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Decorated boats cruise the harbor during the 115th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Decorated boats cruise the harbor during the 115th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Decorated boats cruise the harbor during the 115th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Decorated boats cruise the harbor during the 115th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The opening night festivities included fireworks and a dazzling drone display over the Balboa Bay Club, a new addition to the traditional holiday event. Then the parade of boats – ranging from lavish yachts to a decked-out Duffy – joined the show.
The parade continues nightly from 6:30 to 9 p.m. through Sunday, Dec. 17, and the drone show will take place Friday and Saturday nights. Fireworks are scheduled again on Sunday’s closing night at Balboa Pier. For more information and a route map, go to visitnewportbeach.com/newport-beach-christmas-boat-parade/
