Plan now for Parade of Lights boat parade

The Yacht Club would like to remind residents that the Parade of Lights boat parade is just three weeks away. Those who plan to participate should start planning their entries now. Boats will be cruising the waterways on Saturday, Dec. 8. Residents, clubs, groups and businesses are encouraged to decorate a boat with lights and join in on the fun.

The parade lineup starts at 4:30 p.m. at the East Port launch ramp. The parade starts at 5:30 p.m. and will travel through East Bay and around the main lake before ending at Holiday Harbor Park where Santa will greet visitors and awards will be presented.

Cash prizes will be awarded for best-decorated boats. One boat will be chosen to receive the  Commodore’s Award. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded in the categories of Best Pontoon, Best Ski Boat and Club/Civic categories. New this year, the club will award two boats with First Timers awards. First Timers are those who are entering the parade for the first time or have not participated in the parade in the last three years.

The Yacht Club is requesting that participants turn in their entry forms as soon as possible so the club has a general idea of how many boats will be participating this year.  Entry forms are available in The Friday Flyer paper and at the POA, lodge and country club, or by emailing Commodore Dave Dain at ddain297@gmail.com.

Last-minute entries can sign up on the day of the parade at the East Port launch ramp at 4:30 p.m.; however, participants who do not submit an entry form will not be eligible for judging and prizes.

The Yacht Club offers the following tips for participants:

To make the Parade of Lights more enjoyable, enlist a group of friends or neighbors to help come up with a theme and decorate a boat. It does not have to be an extravagant entry or look like a masterpiece in the daylight, the crowd only sees the lights.

When decorating your boat, keep in mind the obstacles of the lake. The biggest obstacle to remember is the boat tunnel. If your decorations are too high or wide,  your boat won’t make it through the tunnel.

Boats circle the main lake counter-clockwise. If your entry is one-sided, make sure it is on the starboard side or people won’t see it.

Generators can be rented from Home Depot. A 2000-watt generator rents for $58 for 24 hours. A 3000-watt generator rents for $63.

When building your entry, be sure to use the lightest materials possible. Reflectix and R-Tec engineered insulation are a couple products that work great. Both are easy to cut into shapes. The easiest way to attach lights to the material is with a hot glue gun. Questions about the Parade of Lights should be directed to Commodore Dave Dain at ddain297@gmail.com.




Weather

CANYON LAKE WEATHER

Facebook