Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade: Where To Watch, Livestream

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Saturday's Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade, which was named USA Today's Best Holiday Parade last year, took fourth place in this year's voting. Eastport's parade squared off against fierce competitors like Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York and the Hollywood Christmas Parade. This year's yacht parade will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, at Annapolis Harbor and Spa Creek above the Spa Creek Bridge.

Other notable entries were from the region — the Reston Holiday Parade, Baltimore Mayor's Annual Christmas Parade and the Alexandria, VA, Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. This year's national winner was the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia.

And the winter weather advisory that kicks in at midnight through Saturday afternoon, the yacht club said Friday that the parade will go on. "A little snow won't stop the show! Only high winds will force cancellation of the EYC Lights Parade. The current forecast is for another great parade on Saturday evening," organizers said on Facebook.

On Dec. 9, Annapolis Harbor will be filled with boats illuminated with thousands of colored lights in the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade. Families and friends will gather at their favorite viewing spots along the waterfront to see the yearly spectacle, with themes ranging from "Polar Express" to "Star Wars" and a fishing Santa.

The top 10 winners in the USA Today Best Holiday Parade are:

1. Mummers Parade - Philadelphia
2. America's Thanksgiving Parade - Detroit
3. Mayor's Annual Christmas Parade - Boston
4. Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade - Annapolis, Md.
5. Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade - Charlotte
6. Reston Holiday Parade - Reston, Va.
7. Christmas Ship Parade - Portland, Ore.
8. Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights - Alexandria, Va.
9. Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade - Fort Lauderdale
10. McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade - Chicago

This year marks the 35th annual Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade.

Parade Viewing Information
Dress Warmly: Comfort over style. It's amazing how cold it can get when you stand in one spot for a couple of hours. Remember, there will be two fleets changing positions every hour or so. Don't leave just because the boats seem to.
Radio: WNAV Radio 1430 will provide live coverage of the parade with roving reporters from 6 to 8 p.m. and will report on the winners at 10 p.m. Winners also will be announced over marine radio Channel 72 at 10 p.m.

Where to Watch the Parade:

Eastport Bridge: If it's a warm or still night, this is the best vantage point. You can see the fleets both above and below the bridge and get a close-up look as they pass through the bridge. Note: The bridge will be closed to vehicles but open before the parade, at 6:45 and again at 7:45 p.m.
Naval Academy: The length of seawall bordering Spa Creek offers a long, unobstructed viewing area. Check ahead for Naval Academy security regulations that will be in effect.
City Dock: This is a perennial favorite spot for viewers where there is the choice of watching the boats collectively as they parade in the harbor or individually as they negotiate Ego Alley. The Alley spot offers the closest possible look at the decorations as well as the chicken wire and PVC pipe that support them.
Harbor Queen: One fine vantage point at City Dock will be Watermark's Harbor Queen, moored at the end of the dock and conducting the "Queen of All Food Drives" during the parade. Bring a bag of non-perishable food, pet food items, or a cash donation ($10 recommended) and you'll be welcomed aboard. Beverages and snacks available for purchase and proceeds benefit the Anne Arundel County Food Bank.
EYC Lights Parade Dinner & Cruise aboard Catherine Marie: Start with dinner at the Severn Inn, then board Catherine Marie for dessert and champagne to view the parade. Price includes dinner and cruise plus dessert on board. $145/person (this event usually sells out). For more information on public boat events EYC Lights Parade viewing, visit CruisesOnTheBay.com.
Other Spots: If you have friends with offices, homes, or boats along the harbor, this might be a nice time to renew acquaintances. Otherwise, the walkway in front of Annapolis City Marina in Eastport, or any of the streets that dead-end at the harbor or Spa Creek are good spots to view the parade.
1. Market, Shipwright & Revel Streets
2. Acton Cove
3. Southgate, Taney & Cheston Avenues
4. Lafayette Park
5. Monticello Avenue
6. Primrose Rd. (Truxton Park)
7. Burnside Street
8. Fourth Street
9. Third Street
10. Second Street
11. First Street

A Note on Parking

The parking site for this year's parade will be the garage at Park Place, 100 Westgate Circle. There will be signs on Rowe Boulevard and Taylor Avenue directing visitors to the garage. The Free City Shuttle will circulate every ten minutes from Park Place to downtown and from there back to Park Place until 2:30 AM. The Shuttle can be hailed anywhere along the route.

The EYC Clubhouse will be open only to EYC members, their families, and invited/accompanied guests.

You can watch the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade anywhere around the world on any mobile device or HD TV set via livestream.

Photo courtesy of Eastport Yacht Club, used with permission