The L.A. Harbor Holiday Afloat Boat Parade, a 63-year-old local maritime tradition, will sail through the Main Channel in San Pedro and Wilmington from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6.<\/p>\n
Decorated boats of all kinds will sail through the channel as spectators line up shore-side to wave, take photographs and enjoy the water-side celebration.<\/p>\n
Officials and community leaders will serve as judges or passengers on the estimated 50 parade boats lining up for this year\u2019s event. There will be vessels of all shapes and sizes, including powerboats, sailboats, tall ships and harbor working craft.<\/p>\n
The event is sponsored by the Port of Los Angeles and the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club.<\/p>\n
The main body of decorated boats will stretch about 1 mile, passing designated viewing and judging stations in both Wilmington and San Pedro.<\/p>\n
Estimated viewing times for various locations along the parade route are:<\/p>\n
6:30-7 p.m.: Cruise Ship Plaza, Battleship Iowa (judges station), L.A. Maritime Museum, Port Police Dock going toward West Harbor.
\n7:45-7:50 p.m.: Warehouse One, SS Lane Victory in the Outer Harbor.<\/p>\n
The parade will begin at the East Basin near Banning\u2019s Landing Community Center in Wilmington and will take about 90 minutes to cover the entire parade route up to the port\u2019s Main Channel.<\/p>\n
Land-side viewing points along the way include Banning\u2019s Landing Community Center, the California Yacht Marina at Berth 2020, and the California Cafe, 720 Peninsula Road, in Wilmington.<\/p>\n
In San Pedro, the Cruise Ship Promenade at Harbor Boulevard and Swinford Street also provides a good option, along with the Fanfare Fountain and Gateway Plaza, and West Harbor, where the former Ports O\u2019 Call stood.<\/p>\n
Other viewing areas include the S.S. Lane Victory at Berth 52, 2400 Miner St.; 22nd Street Landing, 141 W. 22nd St.; Cabrillo Way Marina, 2293 Miner St.; and California Yacht-Cabrillo Marina, 224 Whaler\u2019s Walk.<\/p>\n