Watt’s this?

Get amped up for the return of the Lighted Boat Parade

Whether a floating parade packed with colorful craft or just a few festooned boats, It's always a stunning sight. The lights of the annual Lighted Boat Parade, reflecting off the water in the Yaquina Bay with the Yaquina Bay Bridge arching over the bay nearby, is a Newport holiday original that’s not to be missed.

Thousands upon thousands of twinkling holiday lights will be adrift in an impressive maritime display along Newport's Yaquina Bay this Saturday, Dec. 7, as the 30th annual parade spreads seasonal cheer with an illuminated armada.

And new this year, the Yaquina Bay Yacht Club will host pet pictures with Santa Paws and a watch party with complimentary cookies and hot cocoa.

The event starts at dusk with the Coast Guard Yaquina Bay Motorboat leading the parade. Decorated boats will join after departing from various docks along the Bayfront and South Beach Marina and will circle the bay from the Coast Guard Station to the Embarcadero. Many boats in the nearby marinas will be decorated and moored at the docks as well.

Started in 1994 by Fran and Don Mathews of Marine Discovery Tours, the Lighted Boat Parade was a local favorite for many years. Don died in 2018, but the Marine Discovery crew rallied, and the parade went on. And then came COVID and the parade, like so many other events, was canceled.

Members of the Yaquina Bay Yacht Club kept the tradition alive with an unofficial parade in the years since then, with really fun decorations including a nod to the “Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” movie, complete with a glowing shark hanging over the deck of the boat.

Now, with the help and support of the Newport Chamber of Commerce, the 2024 parade promises to be a resurgence in participation in this beloved event.

Newport is home to the largest fishing fleet in Oregon and the parade has historically featured a variety of watercraft, including Coast Guard Search and Rescue vessels, sail boats and even sea kayaks.

There are many ways to enjoy the parade: on the water from your own boat or watercraft, viewing from the piers along the shoreline, or watching the lights go by while enjoying dinner at one of the many restaurants along the Bayfront. Clearwater Restaurant at 325 Bay Blvd. has a great location and huge windows, but booking reservations ahead is highly recommended.

"It's a feel-good event for the boating community, as we help raise funds for our Lincoln County Animal Shelter, along with filling up shops and restaurants along the Bayfront," said Newport Chamber of Commerce Event Director Maggie Conrad.

The decorating competition results in a variety of themes, lights, fireworks and even live music aboard the boats. Prizes are awarded to registered boats through generous donations from the community, including a decorated wooden model fishing vessel as the grand prize, courtesy of wood artist Steve Newton. 

For pet photos with Santa Paws, donations of $5, a new pet toy or unopened pet food is requested.

The Lighted Boat Parade begins at dusk this Saturday, Dec. 7. The Yaquina Bay Yacht Club is located at 750 SE Bay Blvd. For more information, go to newportchamber.org or call 541-265-8801.

Schedule

2 to 4 pm - Pet photos with Santa Paws, Yaquina Bay Yacht Club

5 to 6:30 pm - Boat parade circles Yaquina Bay

5 to 6:30 pm - Watch party, Yaquina Bay Yacht Club

7:15 pm – Boaters’ celebration and awards party, Military Room of the Rogue Public House on the Bayfront