118th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade

For over a century, Newport Harbor has kicked off the holidays with its beloved Christmas Boat Parade, where hundreds of decorated yachts, sailboats, kayaks, and canoes cruise the water in a dazzling nightly procession.

The 118th edition of the parade opens on December 16 with fireworks off the Newport Pier, and this year adds drone shows at Balboa Bay Club and Peninsula Park for extra sparkle.

Families can watch for free from spots all along the harbor — Marina Park is one of the best, with open lawn space to spread out a blanket, grab some hot cocoa, and watch the lit-up boats float by.

📅 Dates & Times

Wednesday through Sunday, December 16–20, 2026. Boats cruise the harbor most nights around 6:30 p.m.; opening night (December 16) includes fireworks off the Newport Pier.

📍 Venue

Newport Harbor

309 Palm St

Newport Beach, CA 92661

Marina Park (1600 W. Balboa Blvd.) is one of the best free public viewing spots along the parade route.

👨🏻‍👩🏻‍👦🏻‍👦🏻 Age Requirement

All ages are welcome.

🎟️ Tickets/Price

Free to watch from public viewing areas along the harbor.

🍔 Food

Please check the website for more information.

🚙 Parking

Please check the website for more information.

🌐 Website Link

Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade

🧭 Directions

Click on the "Google" map for directions.

📢 Disclaimer

Event listings are believed to be accurate at the time of posting, but details are subject to change without notice. Please confirm all details with the event organizer before attending. FUN WITH KIDS IN LA® is not liable for errors, omissions, or changes to listings in our calendar. Some events have paid us to be on our events calendar, and some events contain an affiliate link.