Eastport Yacht Lights Parade Canceled By Weather

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A forecast of severe weather and gale warnings have forced organizers to cancel the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade on Dec. 11.

There is no makep-up date, but event organizers have asked participants to turn on their displays wherever they are at the Annapolis City Dock and other marinas in the area.

Parade organizers looked at the developing weather forecast for Saturday, which predicts severe weather conditions during the time scheduled for the parade, according to a news release. Gale warnings are in place and even though this weather incident may prove short-lived as it passes through the area, parade organizers have determined the event should be canceled out of an abundance of caution.

"Although everyone is disappointed, safety is the foremost concern, and the protection of our volunteers and participants comes first," parade officials said in a release.

Eastport Yacht Club and the parade organizers thanked the parade sponsors, including 2021 Title Sponsor Long & Foster Real Estate Annapolis-Eastport Office. "We also want to gratefully recognize the long hours of planning and effort on the part of the Lights Parade skippers and crews, and the Lights Parade volunteers who have been hard at work over the last year."

EYC will review and judge the registered EYC Lights Parade participants "in place."

After this modified judging is completed, EYC Lights Parade Committee will present awards as scheduled on Sunday, Dec. 12, at the Skippers Brunch. The only exception will be the Peoples Choice Award and the Shearwater Up the Creek Award, which is not possible at this time.

The lighted boat parade was unofficially born in the late 1970s. The Eastport Yacht Club made it a formal event in 1983.

"It's a beloved Annapolis tradition," the marina said on its website. "Every year on the second Saturday in December, magic happens on the water of the Annapolis Harbor—boats suddenly appear out of the cold winter night illuminated with thousands of colored lights and crewed by jolly revelers!"

"CBS This Morning" spotlighted the festivities in 2016. That same year, USA Today named Eastport's event the best holiday parade in the nation.

The marina says the celebration now draws up to 30,000 spectators. Attendees watch from the U.S. Naval Academy, Ego Alley and the Spa Creek Bridge.

Pictures of past floats are posted in this photo gallery.

The EYC Lights Parade’s 40th anniversary will be celebrated Dec. 10, 2022.