Lights Parade Brings Cheer Despite Rain

The annual has become a tradition for many friends and families throughout the area.

Despite the cold, or the rain as was the case this year, they flock to downtown Annapolis or the to watch the decorated boats.

Chris Lohr even gave up a ticket to the Army-Navy game to see this year's parade. Sure, he missed the game in Philadelphia. And, sure it was pretty soggy and cold standing in the drizzling, penetrating rain most of the night.

But Lohr of Philadelphia said he wasn't going to miss his family's annual tradition of watching the boats circle around Annapolis Harbor all decked with festive holiday lights.

For the past five or six years, he's traveled to Annapolis to share the night with his sisters, Martha Marino, from outside of Philadelphia, and Katie Terhune of Arnold and their families.

Marino said most years the family would catch the Lights Parade then go to the Lights on the Bay display at Sandy Point State Park. But the line at Sandy Point would usually be too long. So this year, they switched it around and hit Sandy Point first before the crowds flowed from downtown after the lights parade.

Still, the rain did not do much to dampen the spirits of those gathered along the seawall at the Naval Academy. A few tailgaters huddled around a spread of food and cold beers, while others cuddled under a blanket on the rocks or kept watch from inside their vehicles with the heaters blaring.

"This is just something nice to get into the holiday spirit," said Ken Newhouse of Severna Park, who watched the boats with his wife Tracy and sons Tyler, 9, and Tristan, 6.

They've attended the parade for the past three years.

"It's really nice to spend some quality time with the kids," Tracy Newhouse said.

The rain may not have ruined the party for one group of tailgaters, but it did force them to at least temporarily pack away their food, but not the beer.

"We looked at the weather and it wasn't supposed to start raining until around 10," Karen Jones of Annapolis said, as her husband Ryan Jones loaded up a meatball sandwich.

Karen Jones said they entered a boat in the parade in 1995, and even walked away with the Most Spirited award. Their boat featured Santa casting a fishing rod and reeling in stars.

The thought of entering this year had crossed their minds, but not until about two weeks ago, she said with a laugh.

"Now we have kids and it's a different kind of fun now," she said.

Karen Jones then echoed the comment most commonly heard all along the seawall throughout the night.

"It would be perfect if the rain would stop," she said. "Some snow would be perfect."

Karl Lamb of Arnold and his friend Peggy Pearce of Timonium weren't going to let the rain ruin their good time either.

"It's a date night," Pearce said, bundled up against the chill.

Lamb said he had attended the parade for the first time 10 years ago, but hasn't seen it since. The two figured it would be a nice night out. Pearce said she had seen a similar boat parade in Baltimore, but this was her first visit to the Eastport event.

But once again, rain wasn't in their forecast for the evening.

"Snow would be much better than the rain actually," Pearce said. "It would have certainly added to the atmosphere."