TV PERSONALITY GARTH KEMP LEADS HOLIDAY AFLOAT PARADE
Holiday Afloat Parade to Light up Los Angeles Harbor on Saturday, December 1
SAN PEDRO, Calif. — November 9, 2007 — Bundle up your family and friends and head to the waterfront on Saturday, December 1, for the 45th Annual Los Angeles Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade, starting at 6 p.m. in the Port of Los Angeles Main Channel. Garth Kemp of ABC News, Channel 7, will preside as Grand Marshal for this year’s sparkling spectacular of boats decorated in holiday themes.
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.
Viewers are invited to enjoy festive pre-parade events beginning at 3 p.m. at the Cruise Ship Promenade and Banning’s Landing Community Center.
Boater registration for the event is now underway. Vessel entry fee for the parade is only $25, which includes one admission to the Parade Awards Brunch on Sunday, December 2, at Los Angeles Yacht Club. Tickets for the Awards Brunch are $15. Trophies will be awarded in the following categories: Theme, Humorous, Holiday Spirit, Best Animation, Commercial, 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.
To enter, contact parade committee members: Bruce Douglas, San Pedro Yacht Club, (310) 952-0122; James Dimon, Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club, (310) 528-9377; Dianne Bozler, Hurricane Gulch Yacht Club, (310) 377-6492; Terry Brown, Los Angeles Yacht Club, (323) 314-4747 or Trisha Jackson, Long Beach Singles Yacht Club, (562) 201-4898. For parade sponsorship information or Awards Brunch tickets, contact Donna Ethington at (310) 549-8111.
Celebrating its Centennial in 2007, the Port of Los Angeles is America's premier port. As the leading seaport in the nation in terms of shipping container volume and cargo value, the Port generates 919,000 regional jobs and $39.1 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. At the Port of Los Angeles, high priority is placed on responsible and sustainable growth initiatives, combined with high security, environmental stewardship and community outreach. For its industry leading environmental initiatives, the Port received two Environmental Protection Agency awards in 2006. The Port of Los Angeles - A cleaner port. A brighter future.