LOS ANGELES HARBOR HOLIDAY AFLOAT PARADE TO CELEBRATE ITS GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1ST

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — November 16, 2012 — Celebrating its golden anniversary, more than 50 vessels of all shapes and sizes will participate in the 50th Annual Los Angeles Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade on Saturday, December 1st, starting at 6 p.m. in the Port of Los Angeles Main Channel. 15th District Councilman Joe Buscaino will preside as Grand Marshal for this year’s sparkling spectacular display of boats that will celebrate the parade’s golden anniversary and showcase all the great features of the Los Angeles Waterfront.

With the theme of “50 Golden Years of Holiday Lights,” officials and community leaders will take part in the parade as judges or passengers on approximately 60 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 parking lot in front of the USS IOWA, 250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro; 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 Blvd. and Swinford Street in San Pedro; 22nd Street Landing, 141 W. 22nd Street, San Pedro; the SS Lane Victory, Berth 46 at the end of Miner Street, San Pedro; and Cabrillo Marina, 200 Whaler’s Walk, San Pedro.

Viewers are invited to enjoy festive pre-parade events beginning at 4 p.m. at Banning’s Landing Community Center and a post-parade Fanfare Fountain holiday program at 8 p.m. at the entrance to the World Cruise Center in San Pedro.

There is still time to register boats for the parade. Vessel entry fee for the parade is only $30, which includes one admission to the Parade Awards Brunch on Sunday, December 2nd, 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 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 Nov 30th. For more parade information, sponsorship information or Awards Brunch tickets, visit the website or contact Donna Ethington at (310) 549-8111.

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 generates more than 830,000 regional jobs and $35 billion in annual wages and tax revenues. The Port of Los Angeles – A cleaner port. A brighter future.