Canyon Lake Parade of Lights on for Dec. 12

The challenge has been issued. Boat owners are on alert. The Parade of Lights is on and it’s time to get those boats that will be participating ready for the parade.

COVID-19 has resulted in many traditional Canyon Lake events being canceled, but the 38th Annual Canyon Lake Parade of Lights will take place as scheduled. Led by the Yacht Club’s iconic Green Dragon, the holiday event will take place the evening of Dec. 12.

All boat owners are encouraged to plan their boat entry for this community holiday boat parade produced by the Canyon Lake Yacht Club with participation from the Canyon Lake POA.

The Yacht Club also announced that it will give awards in two challenge categories; one for neighborhood/coves and one for clubs.

Boats like this entry from last year’s parade will circle the lake come Dec. 12 for the 38th Annual Canyon Lake Parade of LIghts. The sponsoring Canyon Lake Yacht Club is seeking entries for the event.

The new Neighborhood/Cove Challenge encourages neighbors to band together to create a decorated boat to enter into the parade. One neighborhood has already issued a challenge to the other neighborhoods in the community.

“Your neighborhood doesn’t have a chance,” Pete Delia, from Lucky Cove, said. “Lucky Cove is going to beat every other neighborhood in Canyon Lake with the top neighborhood boat in the Parade of Lights. We take pride in our neighborhood and we’re going to win this year!”

The best Neighborhood/Cove Challenge boat will receive a perpetual plaque in addition to neighborhood pride and accomplishment. The Neighborhood/Cove Challenge award will rotate annually to the next year’s winning entry.

The Club Challenge Award is the second category to receive a top prize.

“We challenge all Canyon Lake Clubs to a fun competition,” Paul Hawker, president of the Pickleball Club, said. “We are making the Pickleball Club boat even better than the last two years when we have won awards. Bring your club’s pride and community spirit and meet us on the water at the Parade of Lights with your club boat. May the best club win!”

The two winning boats will also be featured in all post-event publicity, announced to the press, featured in the official Parade of Lights video and honored throughout next year.

The Yacht Club is introducing several new award and prize levels this year for participating boats. Besides the Club and Neighborhood winners are awards for best themed boat, most popular boat, best “fun” boat, best “party” boat, most elaborate boat, boat with the best use of color, friendliest boat theme and several more.

The Canyon Lake Yacht Club will be hosting online decorating workshops and will be posting expert tips on its social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Dates for workshops and tips will be announced in the next two weeks.

Boat owners, clubs and neighborhoods can download the entry form for the 2020 Parade of Lights at www.canyonlakeyachtclub.com/events/2020PolEntryForm.pdf.

Canyon Lake Yacht Club was established in 1990 by Canyon Lake residents who loved to get out on the lake. Since that time, it has operated as a social and philanthropic club within the Canyon Lake constellation of sanctioned clubs and organizations.

The club of 150 members maintains a fun and busy social calendar, bringing members together for cruises and other activities. The club also produces several annual community events including Summer Series Cocktail Cruises, Opening Day/Blessing of the Boats, Concerts on the Water, Whale Hunt, Lake Clean Up days, the Parade of Lights in December and the Tour of Waterfront Holiday Displays. During the pandemic the club is producing online video meetings with guest speakers on the club’s YouTube channel.