OXNARD, Calif.—Channel Islands Harbor kicks off the holidays with its 43rd annual holiday Parade of Lights 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Dec. 13, with the parade beginning at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to enjoy a full day of holiday activities and then watch a festive display of sparkling lights pass by on decorated boats.

“We hope to make this Parade of Lights at the Harbor a memorable one,” said Lyn Krieger, director, Ventura County Harbor Dept. “It’s really meant to be a family day of fun, getting everyone in the holiday spirit.”
Kids can play in 25 tons of snow falling at the north end of Harborview Park, off Harbor Blvd. near Marine Emporium Landing, beginning at 10 a.m. There will also be horse-drawn carriage rides, a holiday artists’ market, exhibitors, food booths, live music, children’s hands-on art, activities, games and rides, gigantic inflatable fun zone, face painting, water taxi rides and much more.

Santa and his reindeer will ride through the sky to mark the beginning of the parade. The parade starts in front of Peninsula Park and heads to the Main Channel, turns at Hobie Beach, loops in front of the launch ramp then heads back to Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club and repeats the route for second run. The parade can be viewed from parks and walkways that line the route as well as from most Harbor restaurants.
Several hundred Santa to the Sea run participants will be headed to Channel Islands Harbor as they finish their half marathon run. The race begins in front of the giant Santa off the 101 freeway and ends at the Channel Islands Harbor Marine Emporium Landing. The race is sponsored by Garden Acres Mutual Water Co.

To participate in the parade, call Michele Gilmour at (805) 382-3013 to register your boat. To adopt a boat to be in the parade, contact Bill Conroy at the Ventura County Maritime Museum at (805) 984-6260. Any size boat can register for the Parade of Lights. For more information on registering your boat, visit www.channelislandsharbor.org.

All registered boats will receive two tickets to the Parade of Lights Awards Ceremony Brunch at Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club the following morning, 10 a.m., December 14. Additional tickets are available for purchase, and the brunch is open to the public. In addition, parade participants can take part in various decorating contests and compete for awards.

For more information on the Parade of Lights visit www.channelislandsharbor.org or call (805) 985-4852.
Channel Islands Harbor serves as a center of recreation, boating, shopping and water sports activities. The harbor is home to three yacht clubs and nine full-service marinas that provide berths for 2,150 boats. It also hosts the Ventura County Maritime Museum. Located at Fisherman’s Wharf, the museum is a cultural center dedicated to the interpretation of maritime history through interactive exhibits and educational outreach.