Huntington
Harbour Boat Parade December 6 & 7, 2008
While the Huntington Beach Christmas Boat
Parade is not Huntington Harbour's main
Cruise of Lights
event, it is sheer fun for those in a craft who can get close and watch the
action.
Last year was unlike my normal years of
watching the Huntington Beach Boat Parade at friends' houses in the harbor. I
went with a new group, friends who are expert gondoliers.
It was their first season away from
Naples Bay and they wanted to see how the action was in the neighboring
harbor and channels of Huntington Beach. We rode low to the water in their
gondolas, and they steered and sang songs in their gondolier voices.
They had to do some hefty work to stay
away from the large craft participating in the parade. There were also some
small rental boats and Duffy boats that were not participating, and they
presented the greatest challenges for these gondoliers.
To watch this boat parade requires major
effort. With few parking spots available (the islands close their roads during
the event to residents only,) you may want to opt for watching other nearby boat
parades in Naples, Marina del Rey, Newport Beach or Dana Point. If you have
determination, you can try finding a place to park and walk to the event. Some
do park their cars along Edinger outside the harbor, but those spots fill up
fast.
Duffy Boat rentals available in Sunset
Beach for hour and two hour rentals but be advised,
experience is necessary on the busy cruise nights. The
electric vehicle travels no more than 5 miles per hour in
the harbor and is like driving a golf cart.
DUFFY ELECTRIC BOAT
CO. 6732 Pacific Coast Highway, Sunset Beach, CA
90742 Tel: (562) 592-3028
