64th Annual Huntington Harbour Boat Parade

What It Is

The Huntington Harbour Boat Parade is a two-night procession of decorated boats through Huntington Harbour and around its residential islands, now in its 64th year. The 2026 parade runs Saturday and Sunday, December 12 and 13. It is produced by the Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Committee, an all-volunteer nonprofit, not by a marina company or the city.

Why Go

Huntington Harbour is a residential harbor of channels and small islands, so the parade threads past waterfront homes instead of a commercial marina. It is the north coast option, running the same weekend as Dana Point's parade and the weekend before Newport's five-night run (December 16 to 20). Watching is free, and the volunteer-run setup gives it more of a neighborhood feel than the bigger harbor shows.

What To Know Before You Go

Dates: Saturday and Sunday, December 12 and 13, 2026. Time: evening; the organizer had not posted the 2026 start time as of late October, so check hhboatparade.org the week of. Route: the official site posts a route map and a live route tracker. Where to watch: commonly cited public spots include the beach areas on Davenport, Humboldt, Trinidad and Gilbert Islands, plus Seabridge Park. Parking: the organizer warns that public viewing areas fill quickly and parking is very limited. Cost: free to watch. Pro tip: if you want to see the decorated homes from the water without fighting for a beach spot, the ticketed Cruise of Lights runs the following week.

The Honest Take

Parking is the real constraint, and the organizer says so directly. Expect neighborhood street parking and a walk, or use rideshare. Because the route loops through the islands, you see a stretch of the parade, not all of it; use the live tracker to time your arrival. It is a smaller production than Newport, which is the point if you want a parade without a five-night crowd cycle.