Newport Beach boat owners ‘let freedom ring’ in Newport Harbor for the holidays
Boat owners may not have been able to rock around the Christmas tree, but they did rock around Newport Harbor on Thursday night — the first night of the official unofficial boat parade.
The “Let Freedom Ring” parade was organized by boat owners in Newport Beach after the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce canceled theirs in response to the coronavirus pandemic, stating that there was no way for the organizers to ensure people attending were wearing masks or face coverings and abiding by social distancing mandates while watching the parade.
“We are confident in our decision to cancel the official Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade,” said Steven Rosansky, president and chief executive officer of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce in an email.
“As anticipated, coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths are at record highs and this is not the time to be encouraging people to gather in contravention of common sense and all the guidance provided by the state and county health department recommendations,” Rosansky said.
The parade typically generates an estimated $7 million to $10 million in revenue, according to studies done by the Newport Beach and Co. Rosansky said a typical year usually sees 80 to 90 boats registered, though other unregistered boats often tag along at the end.
Rosansky said individual days of the parade have been canceled before due to bad weather, but that the last time the entire parade was canceled was likely during World War II.
This year would have been the 112th.
City staff said that the city’s harbor patrol and boats from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be present for public safety throughout the unofficial parade’s run.
Rapidly filling hospitals in Orange County have been ordered not to redirect ambulances from their emergency rooms to other medical facilities.
No incidents occurred on Thursday night.
Crowds were small and largely distanced as they watched the parade go on. Newport Beach Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Muldoon said he attended the parade and was out on the water with boaters.
Muldoon previously tried to save the Christmas Boat Parade and submitted a request to discuss it to City Manager Grace Leung the night the parade was canceled in November. City Council members voted 5-1 at the Dec. 8 council meeting to discuss the possibility of city staff aiding unofficial parade organizers.
“It went smoothly,” Muldoon said on Friday. “We had a lot of experienced boaters out on the water and we had our own harbor department assisting and directing the parade.”
People walked along Marine Avenue and some watched from the Balboa Bridge. Boats were met with cheers and shouts of “Merry Christmas” and oohs and aahs from passersby.
Some watched from Marina Park and nearby restaurants.
“It wouldn’t feel like Christmas and the holiday season without the boat parade,” Muldoon said. “Having a citizen-led boat parade was a fitting homage to the boat parade’s organizers of 100 years ago.”
The parade, organized by We the People, will continue through Saturday, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. It will follow the same route as the traditional parade and starts at Lido Isle.
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