Holiday Boat Parade

On a cool December evening the Holiday Boat Parade turns Marina del Rey into a corridor of light, and the best seat in the harbor is from the teak deck of Aviation, a Beneteau 46.1 First Line. Holiday Boat Parade is a 3-hour cruise that departs from Naos Yachts Location at 13555 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey, CA, and places you in the middle of the marina for front-row views of decorated yachts, lighted inflatables, and cruising families. The experience is simple: bring a warm layer, a thermos, and a sense of wonder; Naos Yachts provides the vessel, fuel, insurance and the captain’s steady course through the harbor’s sheltered channels.

Marina del Rey’s basin is the largest man-made small craft harbor in North America, a low-slung spread of piers, breakwaters, and palm-fringed promenades that frames Catalina’s silhouette on the horizon when visibility is good. From Aviation you’ll pick out signature landmarks — the white sweep of Fisherman’s Village, merchant piers, and the Palm-lined bike path along Fiji Way — while the surface of the water becomes a moving mirror for holiday lights. The parade highlights a mix of private yachts, charter boats, and community vessels decorated with strings, garlands and synchronized color schemes that reflect off concrete jetty walls and trawled kelp beds.

The evening’s sensory palette is salt air sharpened by cool winter wind, a soft chorus of engines and holiday music, and the flicker of lamps across gangways. Practical details: check in at the Naos Yachts office before departure, arrive early for the best parking options (Dock 52, Fisherman’s Village, or Naos’s lot), and use the marina restrooms on land—the boat’s facilities are off-limits. The cruise runs roughly 5:30pm–7:30pm; layered clothing, seat cushions and blankets make the difference between chill and comfort.

Why book this rather than watching from shore? The boat’s position in the basin puts you among the fastest-moving light displays, and being afloat means you move with the parade rather than watch it pass. Naos Yachts keeps the group small—typically six aboard Aviation—so the vibe is intimate and photo-friendly. This outing is ideal for families, couples, and photographers who want stable, uninterrupted views of the harbor spectacle.

Beyond the parade, Marina del Rey offers walking paths, waterfront dining, and easy access to Santa Monica and Venice. Whether you come for festive cheer or for a quiet night on the water, the Holiday Boat Parade aboard Aviation is a compact, memorable way to celebrate the season from the heart of Southern California boating culture. Tickets are typically $95 per person; groups are limited to six, so reserve early through the provided booking link to guarantee a winter evening on the water with close-up holiday lights and great memories guaranteed.