Courtesy photo.
OXNARD — Channel Islands Harbor kicks off the holidays with its 54th annual holiday Parade of Lights, noon – 8 p.m., Dec. 14, beginning with the parade at 7 p.m. This year’s parade theme is “Musical Notes & Holiday Floats.” Everyone is invited to enjoy a full day of holiday activities and watch festively decorated boats in the parade while listening to carolers sing holiday songs.
Beginning at noon, families can play in 36 tons of snow falling at the north end of Harbor View Park, off Harbor Blvd. near Marine Emporium Landing, 3600 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard. Santa will be there from noon – 4 p.m. and will take pictures with families free of charge. There will also be holiday arts and crafts vendors starting at 10 a.m.
At 6 p.m., join Santa Claus and holiday carolers at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum, 3900 Bluefin Cir, Oxnard, and witness the 2nd Annual “Lighting the Mast at the Maritime Museum.”
The parade starts at 7 p.m. in front of Peninsula Park and heads to the Main Channel, turns at Hobie Beach, loops in front of the launch ramp then heads back to Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club and repeats the route for a second run. The parade can be viewed from parks and walkways that line the route as well as from most Harbor restaurants. Boat charters are available for those who want to watch the parade from the water.
Any size boat can register for the Parade of Lights. To participate in the parade, download an entry form from www.channelislandsharbor.org. Parade participants can take part in various decorating contests and compete for awards.
For more information on the Parade of Lights visit www.channelislandsharbor.org.