The Canyon Lake 42nd Annual Parade of Lights holiday boat parade will be held on Saturday, December 14. from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
Hosted by the Yacht Club, this iconic parade promises to dazzle and entertain crowds, drawing thousands of spectators to lakefront homes and parks to see the festive lights and colorful displays.
From 6:30 to 10 p.m., the Yacht Club will host festivities at Holiday Harbor Park. During this time, visitors can enjoy warm food and hot chocolate, photos with Santa from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and get an up-close look at the boats during intermission from 7 to 7:30 p.m. and after the parade.
Participating boats will line up at the East Port Park launch ramp at 5 p.m. Led by the Yacht Club’s iconic fire-breathing dragon, boats will depart at 5:30 p.m. and zig-zag through the East Bay to the boat tunnel.
Boats that can fit through the tunnel will proceed to Holiday Harbor Park for a 30-minute intermission, while those that cannot will exit the lake and re-launch at Holiday Harbor Park. After regrouping, the parade will travel around the main lake, dipping into Big Bass and Catfish Coves and around Happy Camp before returning to the festivities at Holiday Harbor Park.
Judges will be stationed at a waterfront along the route. Awards for the best-decorated boats will be presented at an awards dinner in January. The People’s Choice Award will be presented at Holiday Harbor Park after the parade.
The Yacht Club will stream the parade live on its Parade of Lights Facebook page, where viewers can vote for their favorite boat. To follow the Facebook page, click here.
All boaters are encouraged to enter the parade. Entry is free: however, registration is required to be eligible for awards. The registration form will be available on the Yacht Club’s website at www.canyonlakeyachtclub.org.
The Yacht Club is seeking volunteers and sponsors for this event. For more information, call or text Commodore Rob Mora at 951-970-8089.
The Parade of Lights schedule is as follows:
- 5 p.m.: Boats line up at the East Port Park launch ramp.
- 5:30 p.m.: Parade travels through the East Bay.
- 6:30 to 10 p.m.: Festivities at Holiday Harbor Park.
- 7 – 7:30 p.m. Intermission at Holiday Harbor Park.
- 7:30 p.m: Parade resumes, traveling around the main lake.
- 9 p.m.: Boats return to Holiday Harbor for continued festivities and the People’s Choice Award announcement.
- 10 p.m. Event ends
Some of the best viewing spots for the parade are Holiday Harbor Park, Indian Beach, Roadrunner Park, Diamond Point Park, and Sunset Beach.
The POA recommends the e-pass option for residents calling in guests. Service providers will not have access to amenities or facilities on the day of this event. Should members need a service provider to have access, they can add them as a temporary guest for the day. Service providers include contractors, delivery drivers (Doordash, pizza, etc.), furniture deliveries, house cleaning services, HVAC services, landscapers/pool services, plumbing services, and rideshare apps (Uber/Lyft). Healthcare providers will be permitted access.
