38th Annual Parade of Lights

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Program Type:

Harbor Commission, Waterfront

Program Description

 

On Sunday, December 8th, at 3:00 p.m., come down to the waterfront to celebrate the 38th Annual Parade of Lights, where families can visit a Winter Wonderland on the City Pier in the Santa Barbara Harbor. There will be holiday elves, 10 tons of snow, goodie bags, and a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus!

This year the theme of the parade is Yuletide Pirates! The Human-Powered category of the parade will take place during the daylight at 3:30 p.m. Dozens of standup paddlers and kayakers dressed in festival attire will loop the harbor and Stearns Wharf, spreading cheer for all to hear. At 5:00 p.m., a tree lighting ceremony, complete with holiday tunes, sung by the Dos Pueblos Jazz Choir, will be held on Stearns Wharf next to the Sea Center. Then, at 5:30 p.m., around 30 illuminated watercraft will light up the night as they make their way from Leadbetter Beach down the coast to the Cabrillo Pavilion, then back along the coast to Stearns Wharf.

The parade will be followed by a brief fireworks show starting at approximately 7:00 p.m. The best viewing locations for the boat parade and fireworks include Stearns Wharf, the breakwater, West Beach, and East Beach.

For more information and to join the parade, please visit the Parade of Lights webpage