Mission Bay boat parade launched 50 years ago
Fifty years ago, the first annual boat Parade of Lights was held on Mission Bay on Dec. 14, 1970. The peaceful f lotilla of boats decorated with lights and ornaments featured Santa as well as a procession of church and youth choirs singing carols.
A distinctly San Diego celebration, the boat parade on Mission Bay preceded the more formal San Diego Bay boat parade by a couple of years. Due to a rise in COVID-19 cases, the parade has been canceled for 2020.
From The San Diego Union, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1970:
CAROLERS, AQUATIC PARADE GLITTER ON MISSION BAY
Spectators lined the shores of Mission Bay last night as more than 80 craft participated in a Christmas parade of lighted and holiday decorated boats prior to the lighting of a 320-foot, 2,000-bulb Christmas tree strung from PSA’s Skytower at Sea World.
The Mission Bay Parade of Lights was led by city councilman Robert Martinet. Chairman of the Christmas Pageant committee, Martinet was accompanied in his boat by Santa Claus and Mrs. Preston Foster, widow of the late actor who was active in San Diego boating organizations.
Mrs. Foster served as grand marshal for the lighted procession.
The Parade of Lights and Christmas Pageant was sponsored by the Mission Bay Yacht Club; Mission Bay Associates; Mission Bay Lessees Association; San Diego-Mission Bay Boat and Ski Club; Sea World and Youth for Christ. The groups hope to make it an annual event.
Christmas carols were amplified from several of the boats as the parade wended its way along the shoreline from west of Quivira Basin, moving past the Bahia Hotel, Santa Clara Point, Rivera Shores, Crown Point Shores, and East Vacation Isle to end at Sea World.
The Bahia Belle carried the 50-member choir of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Clairemont, who sang carols for shoreline viewers during the parade. The Islandia Hotel’s 72-footer, the Minnie Mae, carried a singing crowd of local disc jockeys, while Sea World’s three hydrofoil boats carried choir members of the local Youth for Christ.
Other entries ranged from a 40-foot cruiser decked in holiday regalia to 18-foot sailboats sporting Christmas lights and decorations strung from the tops of their masts.
At the conclusion of the boat procession a Christmas carol program was staged at the marine park by choirs from San Diego area churches as a benefit for Youth for Christ.
Nearly 1,000 carolers participated in a candlelight procession at Sea World, ending at the Skytower where Santa Claus officially lighted the 320-foot Christmas tree.
Following the tree ceremony, continuous shows featuring Christmas music and colorful dancing fountains were staged in the Sparkletts Water Fantasy. visitors also were able to ride the Skytower capsule to the top, within the circle of lights forming the giant Christmas tree.