BOATER REGISTRATION OPEN FOR 49th ANNUAL LOS ANGELES HARBOR HOLIDAY AFLOAT PARADE SET FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3RD

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — October 19, 2011 — Boater registration is now underway for the 49th Annual Los Angeles Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade, which will be held on Saturday, December 3, starting at 6 p.m. in the Port of Los Angeles Main Channel.  Business owners, Mike & Shirley Walker, who operate the non-profit organization “San Pedro Packages for Patriots” will preside as Grand Marshals for this year’s sparkling spectacular of boats decorated in patriotic themes in honor of our nation’s military.

Vessel entry fee for the parade is only $30, which includes one admission to the Parade Awards Brunch on Sunday, December 4, at the DoubleTree Hotel. Advance tickets for the Awards Brunch are $20 or $25 at the door. Trophies will be awarded in the following categories: Theme, Traditional, Humorous, Holiday Spirit, Best Animation, Commercial, Most Patriotic, Most Original, Children’s Choice, Judge’s Choice, and Grand Marshal’s Award. Yacht Clubs will be vying for the coveted Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the club with the most entries.

Deadline for boat entries is Dec 2. For parade sponsorship information or Awards Brunch tickets, contact Donna Ethington at (310) 549-8111.

With the theme of “Home for the Holidays,” officials and community leaders will take part in the parade as judges or passengers on approximately 50 parade boats. Vessels of all shapes and sizes will participate, including powerboats, sailboats, tall ships and harbor working craft.

The parade, which is sponsored by the Port of Los Angeles, starts in the East Basin near Banning’s Landing Community Center in Wilmington and takes approximately 90 minutes to cover the entire parade route up the Port’s Main Channel. Spectators may view the procession from several points along the Port’s Main Channel, including the Banning’s Landing Community Center, 100 E. Water Street, Wilmington; the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, 600 Sampson Way, San Pedro; Ports O’ Call Village, 1100 Nagoya Way, San Pedro; the Cruise Ship Promenade at Harbor Boulevard and Swinford Street in San Pedro; 22nd Street Landing, 141 W. 22nd Street, San Pedro; and Cabrillo Marina, 200 Whaler’s Walk, San Pedro.

The Port of Los Angeles is America’s premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit the economy as well as the quality of life for the region and the nation it serves. As the leading seaport in North America in terms of shipping container volume and cargo value, the Port supports more than 830,000 regional jobs and $35 billion in annual wages and tax revenues. A proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles, the Port is self-supporting and does not receive taxpayer dollars.

The Port of Los Angeles – A cleaner port.  A brighter future.