Get Your Glow On! The Best Holiday Lights in Long Beach
Long Beach is all about living by the ocean! During the month of December, our waterfront puts on the sparkle and shine with dazzling boat parades, glittering holiday cruises & tours, romantic kayaking & gondola experiences, and even a Corgi parade! So don your Santa hat, snuggle up in your favorite sweater (ugly preferred), and get your glow on with the best Holiday Lights in Long Beach!
Annual Parade of 1,000 Lights 429 Shoreline Village Drive Long Beach, CA 90802
Dec 7 Shoreline Yacht Club is presenting their 31st Annual Parade of 1000 Lights, themed “Sand, Surf and Santa.” The parade route will begin outside Shoreline Marina, move toward Island White, circle near the beach, move into and through Shoreline Marina and on to Rainbow Harbor past Parker’s Lighthouse Restaurant, Pine Avenue Pier, and Gladstone’s, departing Rainbow Harbor and passing by the Queen Mary. Best viewing will be in Shoreline Village, Rainbow Harbor and from the Queen Mary. The public is invited to participate as a spectator or by entering a boat in the parade.
SoCal Corgi Nation Christmas Parade 200 East Second St. Long Beach, CA 90803
Dec 7 Who doesn’t love a parade! And it’s even more fun if it involves corgis! For the 6th year in a row, SoCal Corgi Nation is marching in the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade. If you haven’t been before, you are in for a treat as hundreds of corgis dressed in their most festive Christmas gear will spread their pawliday cheer. Holiday attire is mandatory for all persons marching and corgis are encouraged to dress up as well. Spaces are limited to 250 humans marching. Since 1983, the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade has been marching down East Second Street, featuring over 100 entries, including floats, marching bands, and local personalities and dignitaries.
Christmas Lights Run 5338 E 2nd St. Long Beach, CA 90803
Dec. 12 Join Runners High Long Beach for a 3 mile run through Naples to enjoy the the awesome Christmas Lights! Don’t miss out on free hot chocolate, Santa hats and jingle bells. RSVP here
Waterfront Tour of Lights Legends 5236 E 2nd St. Long Beach, CA 90803
Board a classic Long Beach Trolley for a waterfront tour that will showcase the best light displays around. The tour includes the famous floating Christmas trees of Alamitos Bay and beautiful Naples Island! Tour includes hot cocoa & sugar cookie, souvenir Santa hat & candy cane, Holiday Music (sing along if you like!); and light narration of the waterfront aboard the cable car.
Naples Holiday Lights Boat Parade 205 N Marina Dr. Long Beach, CA 90803
Dec 14 Naples Improvement Association presents the 73rd Annual Holiday Lights Boat Parade, themed “Christmas Under the Sea.” Located in the Alamitos Bay Marina, the best place to see the Parade is along the Naples Canals and outer walks. Other good places are along Bay Shore Drive north of 2nd Street, the beach along Bay Shore Drive south of 2nd Street, or on East Bayshore Walk on the Belmont Peninsula. If you’re making dinner plans, the Large Boat Parade will stream by the restaurants in Seaport Village. To get you in the festive mood, caroling groups will be strolling around the island and most of the homes in Naples will be decorated for the holidays.
Kayaking with Christmas Lights 5411 E Ocean Blvd Long Beach, CA 90803
Dec 21 Get a great workout while gazing at Long Beach’s glittering holiday lights with Kayaks on the Water. You must already know how to kayak to attend this event and all participants are required to know how to swim and be 5 years of age or older. Life jackets will be provided with rental and a skip/boat will be following for support. Bringing your own kayak is not allowed (for safety they can only have a certain number of kayaks in the water. Parking is either on the street on the beach side or metered on the opposite side. Beach parking lot is also close by.
Harbor Lights Cruise of Newport Beach 195 N Marina Dr. Long Beach, CA 90803
It all started with a gondola and eight canoes lit by Japanese lanterns. More than 100 years later, the holiday lights of Newport Harbor — covering just about every inch of boats, estates, docks and beyond — just get bigger and better, and pop up earlier and earlier. Treat yourself to the best views of all the dazzling action on this 75-minute cruise, which boasts both indoor and outdoor viewing. Warm clothes, especially wacky Christmas sweaters, are recommended.
Sleighs on the Bay Holiday Cruise of Lights 5437 E Ocean Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90803
The Islands of Naples become a fairy tale setting for the month of December. Gondola Getaway invites you to celebrate the holidays with Sleighs on the Bay and experience the beauty of Christmas as you cruise the bay of lights. Gondola Getaway was founded in 1982 with the concept of bringing back the Old World charm of the “Gondola” to the canals of Naples Islands. Gondolas were first introduced into the area in 1903 when the islands were developed into a Venetian style neighborhood, replete with grand canals and romantic bridges. Over the past 35+ years, Gondola Getaway has strived to bring authenticity and a high level of service to its guests. To help facilitate the authenticity, they take a team to Venezia each year to row and race with the Venetians – the only American team to do so for the past 33 years!