32nd Annual Parade of Lights 2018

On Sunday, December 9th, the 32nd Annual Parade of Lights Boat Show was held at Stearns Wharf and seen along the city beachfront from west to east beaches. This year marked the return of the event from 2016, as SB Waterfront decided for the safety of our citizens to cancel it last year due to the Thomas Fire. The parade, founded by Captain Don Hedden, past president of the Stearns Wharf Business Association in 1985, is a holiday favorite. With it comes Santa, goodie bags for the kids, the annual harbor tree lighting, the boat parade contest, and concludes with a fireworks show launched from West Beach.

The boat contest theme for 2018 was Hollywood Holidays. There are three winners in each boat category, complete with trophies, gifts, and cash prizes. Boat parade participants enter for free under the categories: human-powered, power, sail, power, or commercial other vessels.

Thanks to the SB City Waterfront, I was given my usual bird’s eye view of the parade in the judge’s loft to take photos, upstairs at the Deep Sea Tasting Room patio. Captain David Bacon is the Master of Ceremonies with his wife, Cathy, announcing each boat as it “poses” in front of the judges while cruising along the harbor from East Beach going west. Boats are judged on a scale of 1 to 5 for use of lights, interpretation of the parade theme and overall impression. Judges were Mark Danielson General Manager KEYT, John Koontz SB Yacht Club Commodore, Cathy Murillo SB Mayor, Ken Oplinger President and CEO Chamber of Commerce SB Region, and Kristen Sneddon SB City Councilmember.

Skip Abed, SB Sailing Center owner, with Mick Kronman, Harbor Operations Manager, presented the awards ceremony held at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, courtesy of Greg Gorga, Executive Director of the museum. Announced at the event, Dominique Samario, SB Waterfront Public Information Officer, who has been administrating the event for the past 10 years, has accepted a position with the City of Goleta. She has done a remarkable job and we wish her the best. Kronman was also recognized for 19 years of dedicated service to the Parade of Lights.

The Boat Parade of Lights Winners are: 

Grand Prize Best Overall: Shawn Hughes, S.S. Minnow 

Commercial Fishing Boat 1st Place: Bernard Friedman, Perseverance

Commercial Other 1^st Place: Cliff Albritton, Channel Cat

Power Boat 1^st Place: Shawn Hughes, S.S. Minnow 

Sail Boat 1^st Place: Barbara Mullen, Sirocco

Human Power 1st Place: Frank Dumong, Santa

Golden Bilge Pump Award [least points]: Tim Strand, Calico 

Sponsors included The City of Santa Barbara, Harbor Merchants Associations, Stearns Wharf Business Association, the Santa Barbara Yacht Club, Conway Family Wines, K-Lite & KYTD Radio, and Haagen Printing.