By: Jessie Monsivais Photo via: South Texas Event Photography – Harbor Lights Festival
If you’ve ever been around the downtown area for the holiday season, you’ll know that the Harbor Lights Parade is a staple celebration for the community. Included in the parade is the Illuminated Boat Parade, a unique spectacle that gathers thousands of locals and visitors to the steps of the seawall to watch fleets of boats – from sailboats to shrimp boats – light the harbor in celebration of the festive season!
After 30 years, with valuable help from the DMD, thebrHarbor Light Illuminated Boat Parade, has been brought back from the brink. Presented by the Port of Corpus Christi and hosted by the Corpus Christi Yacht Club andbrBay Yacht Club, the 2019 Illuminated Boat Parade will take place on Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m.
The boats are judged in four categories; Power Sail, Commercial, and Best Overall. This year the boat parade will be televised with KRIS-6 set up at the Bay Yacht Club. The Skippers Meeting and Awards Ceremony will take place at the Corpus Christi Yacht Club.
Chair of the Illuminated Boat Parade Sub Committee, Marcus Veazey, shares, “Although the Illuminated Boat Parade never ceased, it came close to being canceled this year. Thanks to Alyssa Mason at the CVB, there are a few changes this year and a lot of momentum and excitement about this year’s parade that is a direct result of her involvement and the work of the Harbor Lights Committee and the City Marina.”
According to Veazey, anyone with a boat can participate. If you don’t have a boat, not to worry, you can still experience the holiday cheer along the seawall as the lively MC introduces the boats while they glisten along the harbor decked out in lights, tinsel, music, costumes and more!
“It is a great event that has been going on for 30 years,” says Veazey. “Corpus Christi is a water city, and with the growth and development downtown over recent years it is only natural that this event reflects that.”
