Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade

About this happenin

Forty to seventy lit boats circle the main channel of Marina del Rey harbor at least twice on the second Saturday in December. The parade started with 20 boats, back when the marina had just opened and had almost no buildings. Burton Chace Park, at 13650 Mindanao Way, is the party spot, with music over loudspeakers and two announcers calling the boats as they pass. The park opens at 4 p.m. with carolers, food trucks, a photo booth and a kids' art corner, a drone light show runs at 5:45, and the boats go by from 6 to 8. Skippers dress to a theme that changes every year and play live music on deck, and judges give prizes for best lights, best live band and a dozen other categories. About 25,000 people watch. Nobody sells tickets, so ignore any site that offers them. The parade runs rain or shine and is called off only if the Coast Guard issues a small craft advisory.

More in December: 8 other Los Angeles events.

Where

Burton Chace Park · 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292