Parade of Lights adds waterfront home decor to contest

BY Ariana Shah

This year’s 38th annual Canyon Lake Parade of Lights holiday boat parade will once again create holiday splendor on the water next weekend. Boats from Canyon Lake clubs and neighborhoods, as well as individual and family boats will show off their holiday spirit with festive lights and colorful displays.

It’s not too late to enter the Dec. 12 Canyon Lake Yacht Club event. Awards will be given in a variety of categories. However, all entries must be received by next Friday (Dec. 11) as there will be no “day of” signups.

The Gingerbread House boat participated in the Canyon Lake Parade of Lights last year. Photo provided by Canyon Lake Yacht Club

The parade lineup starts at 4:30 p.m. at the East Port Park launch ramp. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m., following the Yacht Club’s iconic Green Dragon boat in a leisurely trip down the East Bay, through the tunnel and around the Main Lake.

Because of restrictions on public gatherings this year, winning boats will be announced on social media with physical awards presented in the days after the event.

The Yacht Club is also producing a Facebook Live “broadcast” this year as a way of providing a safe viewing experience during the pandemic. Information on the live event will be available at the Yacht Club website, www.CanyonLakeYachtClub.com, a few days before the parade.

Boat owners, clubs and neighborhoods can enter by filling out the adjacent entry form or by downloading the form at the club website.

The Yacht Club is also reintroducing a community-wide competition for holiday displays in waterfront homes, which has been a past holiday tradition in Canyon Lake.

Winning displays and neighborhoods will receive awards in several categories. Judging homes will occur on the week of Dec. 13-18. Judges will travel to all coves and pass primary channel homes to view and determine lakeside award-winning displays.

On the evening of Dec. 19, the Yacht Club will provide a Tour of Waterfront Holiday Displays. The tour is open to all residents and will begin at about 5:30 p.m. with Yacht Club boats. The Yacht Club will offer limited seating on club boats for the tour, with social distancing and safe health practices determined by individual captains.

The club requests a donation to the Yacht Club for all non-Yacht Club member passengers. Proceeds will benefit the club’s scholarship fund and other club philanthropic activities. Interested attendees for the tour can email the Yacht Club at info@CanyonLakeYachtClub.com to reserve their seat(s) for the tour.

Those who would prefer to do a self-guided tour can find maps of award-winners posted on the Yacht Club website on the evening of Dec. 19.