Parade of Lights
Canyon Lake residents and friends, eager for a traditional Christmas festivity, flocked to waterfront houses and parks to view a colorful 38th Annual Canyon Lake Parade of Lights put on by the Canyon Lake Yacht Club Saturday night.
About 30 boats slowly joined the parade behind the Canyon Lake Yacht Club’s Fire-Breathing Green Dragon, which led the route around the lake. Members and nonmembers of the club participated in the showcasing of the lighted Christmas decorations on their boats.
Greg & Karin Cassidy’s Big Blue Shark overwhelms their boat and lights up the lake during the Canyon Lake Parade of Lights Saturday night. The shark won the Cassidys the Best Showmanship Award. About 30 boats entered the 38th annual event that was both streamed virtually via Facebook Live and seen from lakefront homes and parks throughout the community. Photo by Ariana Shah
Following the parade, winners were announced by the Yacht Club via social media. The winners in the top categories were:
Commodore’s Award: Brian and Diann Oltman (Choo Choo Train)
Most Elaborate: Rob Mora and Lainie Cooney (Gingerbread House)
Most Innovative: Howard Hellman (Rudy’s Rocket)
Best Club Boat: Dave & Jennifer Dain, Yacht Club (Rudolph & His Friend Frosty)
Best Showmanship: Greg & Karin Cassidy (Big Blue Shark)
Best Neighborhood: Mike & Kim Duffy, Lucky Cove (Lucky Cove Winners)
Most Patriotic: The Martilla Family (Patriotic Santa)
Best Design: Mike Kerber (Bright Lights!)
Most Outstanding: Yegsigian Family (Santa Sleigh)
Best Party Boat: Jay Fitzpatrick (Mexican Christmas)
Most Beautiful Boat: Bonelli Family (Red & White Lights)
More winners will be announced tomorrow.
In addition to those who viewed the Parade of Lights in person, others took advantage of the Yacht Club’s live-streaming of the event on Facebook Live. With COVID-19 concerns, the Facebook Live event provided a safe viewing experience for those wishing to remain inside.
Howard Hellman’s crew prep their boat and wait for the sun to go down and for the Canyon Lake Parade of Lights begin on Saturday night. Their boat, entitled Rudy’s Rocket, won the Most Innovative Award. Photo by Ron Wilbur
The official video of this year’s parade will be available next week, with beautiful aerial and land-based coverage of all the entries, Ron Wilbur, the Yacht Club Vice-Commodore, said.
“Judging of entries this year was led by Karen Bevans, the ultimate judge leader,” Ron said. “She assembled an all-star cast of independent judges.”
Karen also helped judge the Halloween and Holiday decoration contests held in Canyon Lake this year.
Shorelines throughout Canyon Lake were loaded with holiday revelers eager to catch the spirit of the season by watching the parade of brightly-lit and decorated boats. The crowd above watches the Martilla Family’s Patriotic Santa, which won the Most Patriotic Award. Photo by Ariana Shah
The brightly-lit Moorehead family boat “Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree” brought oohs and ahhs from those at The Canyon Lake Parade of Lights begin on Saturday night. An estimated 30 boats followed one another around the lake at the 38th annual holiday event. Photo by Ron Wilbur
