Yacht Club invites boats to join Parade of Lights

BY Amritha

Canyon Lake’s annual Parade of Lights holiday boat parade has been a symbol of community holiday spirit for 38 years. This year, the sponsoring Canyon Lake Yacht Club is inviting every registered Canyon Lake boat to join the parade.

“Dress your boat up and throw some lights and holiday decorations on it,” Rich Moline, the club’s Commodore, said. “Dress up your crew or just come cruise with the parade with your running lights on.”

The parade will take place next week on Dec. 11. Canyon Lake boats from throughout the community will show off their holiday spirit with festive lights and colorful displays, Rich said.

Participants from last year’s Canyon Lake Parade of Lights prepare for joining the parade with their decorated boat. This year’s parade will take place next weekend on Dec. 11. The Parade of Lights has a been a Canyon Lake holiday tradition for 38 years. Photo provided by Canyon Lake Yacht Club.

The time-honored tradition in Canyon Lake features a parade of festively-decorated boats that tour the lake after the sun goes down with lights reflecting off the lake’s surface. Canyon Lakers crowd the shoreline to view the annual event.

Boats will line up at the Eastport Park boat launch area at 4:30 p.m. and the parade will begin at approximately 5:30 p.m.

The Canyon Lake Yacht Club said it’s not too late to enter boats into the festive parade. To make the process simple and fun, the club has prepared decorating tips and ideas for how boats can be part of the fun, floating and festive flotilla.

Participants will cruise around the lake with the Yacht Club’s infamous Green Dragon leading the way while thousands watch from the shoreline. As in previous years, parade boats will not be going into coves, so best viewing sites will be along the East Channel and at various parks and waterfront homes on the Main Lake.

Boats can enter by downloading the parade entry form on the club’s website, CanyonLakeYachtClub.com. There is no cost to enter and the parade is open to all Canyon Lake registered boats.

The Yacht Club encourages Canyon Lake boat owners to enter the parade and vie for awards given in a variety of categories, Rich said. The award winners will be announced the following week, and the Yacht Club will host a party in January for all the winners.

Companies doing business in Canyon Lake or those with corporate officers living in the community are encouraged to help sponsor the parade, Rich said. Various levels of sponsorship are available. Interested sponsors can contact Rich at rich.moline@yahoo.com.

As part of the club’s philanthropic efforts, the Yacht Club uses sponsorship monies to help award college scholarships to deserving Canyon Lake students.