OXNARD, Calif.—Channel Islands Harbor kicks off the holidays with its 44th annual holiday Parade of Lights 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Dec. 12, 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.

Kids can play in 36 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 a holiday artists’ market, exhibitors, live music, children’s activities, gigantic inflatable fun zone, face painting, 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.

To participate in the parade, download an entry form from www.channelislandsharbor.org, or call (805) 382-3001 for more information. 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.

All registered boats will receive two tickets to the Parade of Lights Awards Ceremony Brunch at Channel Islands Yacht Club the following morning, 10 a.m., December 13. 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.

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.