The Oregon Coast has some fun light events at holiday time. This one was this past weekend. We posted this last year but thought it worth a re-run. The Lighted Boat Parade at Newport, OR.

Newport, Oregon is one of our favorite places to visit and has been blogged about here before. There is much to see and do in Newport, including vast areas of beach to explore. At Christmas time, Newport’s Yaquina Bay becomes a spectacular light display during the first weekend in December. The bay, with the largest fishing fleet on the Oregon Coast, turns into a Holiday light event unlike any other.

Dozens of boats decorated with lights, fireworks, various themes and even live music will travel around the bay between 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm on Saturday, December 3. This remarkable armada will navigate around the bay from the Coast Guard Station to the Embarcadero Resort and back throughout this time frame.

There are several ways to enjoy this fun and beautiful holiday light display. You can watch from a variety of outside piers and places and several restaurants around the bay. You can enter your own decorated boat and float along with the others. Or, you can buy a ticket and ride on one of the decorated boats. Riding includes hot cocoa and cookies. All proceeds are donated to the annual Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital Foundation’s Festival of Trees event.

A variety of boats will be participating in this 23^rd Annual Lighted Boat Parade including charter boats, fishing boats, Coast Guard search & rescue vessels, sailboats and sea kayaks. In addition, with their research vessels returning for the winter, the NOAA Pacific Fleet will participate with brilliance!

Unique designs and lighting techniques will contribute to the competition for a variety of prizes donated by the local community neighbors and businesses. The Oregon Coast Bank is providing the grand prize of a hunting rifle.

If you are on or near the Oregon Coast, don’t miss this one-night holiday event. Come visit us at Umpqua River Haven (www.umpquahaven.com) and travel the short 60 miles to Newport for this unique and dazzling light display.