As far as we’re concerned, it’s never too early to start looking forward to the holiday season, when the atmosphere around us becomes so comfortingly aglow. With our streets, trees, houses, bars, zoos, and even fireworks working to paint the town with warm, colorful light to help fight those long nights, why shouldn’t our waterfronts join in the fun?
Every year on the Thea Foss Waterway, the Tacoma Yacht Club does just that, with the Tacoma Lighted Boat Parade bringing around a seafaring procession of decked-out vessels. Unlike bombastic waterfront events such as Independence Day celebrations, the Tacoma Lighted Boat Parade errs on the side of enchantment, with the chilled quiet of the night being peppered with music drifting through the air and occasional honks from the boats passing by. It’s a hypnotic event, as boats make their way from the Point Defiance docks down to the Dock Street Marina.
Fundamentally, there’s really no bad seat when it comes to seeing the parade pass by, but there are some tips to getting the most out of your experience. Gene Kautzman, chair of the Lighted Boat Parade, has some advice on how best to view the procession.
“What I recommend to people is that you go to lunch, park your car in one of the parking spots along Ruston Way, so your windshield looks out onto the water, and sit back and enjoy,” says Krautzman. “Sometimes, some people may have a bonfire on the beach, depending on what the tide is doing. But, as a rule of thumb, we have people that are lined up along the whole waterfront, so you’ll want to get there early.”
So, whether you’re going to watch it all from the comfort of your car, bust out the lawn chairs, or get toasty next to a crackling fire, you’ve got to stake out your spot ahead of time, with Krautzman recommending getting there at least an hour before the festivities start.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a parade without a bit of incentive to get the most dazzling displays out of these quite literal “floats.” Each year, a panel of judges awards the boats with 1st Place, 2nd Place, and Commodore’s Choice honors — and, each year, the boats go above and beyond with their presentations.
“There’s a lot of factors that go into judging the boats” says Krautzman. “Do you have music? Is there animation? Do you have people that are dressed up? There are a lot of different categories that the judges use, and some people get pretty extravagant. Last year, we had a guy with a sailboat that had the leg lamp from A Christmas Story on it, which was cool. He used his mast and stuff to create the leg lamp. Some people have different themes each year, and some people keep building onto what they have going on.”
The Lighted Boat Parade usually features around 30-40 boats, with no entry fee. If you want to participate, all you have to do is register on the Tacoma Yacht Club website. For members of the club, there will be an afterparty following the parade. But, really, this is meant to be an inclusive event that brings folks out of the woodwork, stretching down the length of Ruston Way, to see a festive spectacle; it’s an occasion to get cozy by the water, feel the crisp bite of the night air, and revel in the beauty of the Puget Sound and the spirit of our neighbors.
WHAT
Tacoma Lighted Boat Parade
WHEN
Saturday, December 21 at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE
Across the Ruston Waterfront, Tacoma
COST
Free
LEARN MORE
https://www.tacomayachtclub.org/Public_Events/Lighted_Boat_Parade