Vote for Eastport Lights Parade as USA Today's Best Holiday Parade

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A stereotypical Christmas parade involves snow, a sleigh and Santa Claus. In Annapolis, the jolly old elf is welcomed to town by boat.

Every year on the second Saturday in December, Annapolis Harbor is filled with boats illuminated with thousands of colored lights in the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade. Families and friends 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.

This year's yacht parade will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, at Annapolis Harbor and Spa Creek above the Spa Creek Bridge.

The Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade has been nominated as one of USA Today's Best Holiday Parades; vote here daily through Dec. 5 to help Eastport win. As of Thursday, Nov. 17, the event ranked No. 1 in the voting, ahead of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, the McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago and other heavy-hitters. The Reston Holiday Parade in Reston, Virginia, is also one of the contenders, currently ranked at No. 6 on the list.

Here's what USA Today has to say about the holiday bragging rights:

Dancing elves, festive floats, boats covered in twinkling lights, Santa in his sleigh – these are some of the many sights you might see as a spectator at one of these 20 holiday parades, nominated as the best in the USA. Which spirited holiday parade is your favorite? Cast your vote once per day until the polls close on Monday, December 5 at noon ET. The 10 winning parades, determined by your vote, will be announced on Friday, December 9. Read the official Readers' Choice rules here.

This year marks the 34th annual Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade. Here's what you need to know about viewing:

For information on access points, check out the Parade Map link.

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 be providing live coverage of the parade with roving reporters from 6:00 to 8:00 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. (Last year, even with the canceled show, over 300 pounds of food was donated, along with more than $1700.)
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. We'll post instructions soon on how to see this great Annapolis event!

»Photo courtesy of Eastport Yacht Club, used with permission