The parade lights up the Annapolis waterfront with up to 40 boats of all shapes and sizes, power and sail, ightly decorated for the Christmas season. This festive maritime event is great fun for the entire family. Skippers participate for the fun of it, and circle the waterfront in two fleets: one circling in front of Eastport, the City Dock and the Naval Academy seawall, the other circling the length of Spa Creek, inside the idge.
This year the Lights Parade will be held on Saturday, December 10, between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00 PM. The event will occur rain or shine, with only high winds forcing a cancellation. This year the fireworks have been cancelled, but the usual parade will be at its glittering best!
More than 50 volunteers work all year long to produce this event, a gift to the city of Annapolis from the Eastport Yacht Club. Twenty to thirty thousand people line the waterfront each year to watch this glittering holiday parade.
Entries this year include: Chesapeake Reindeer, Holiday Star, Doves of Peace, Old Train, Big Red Christmas, Winter Wonderland, and Santa, Rudolph and the Elves.
You can take home memories of the Lights Parade by purchasing posters or cards designed by local artist Bill Jaeger. These are available through the Eastport Yacht Club, the Museum Store and area shops.
Parking will be at the garage at Park Place rather than at the Navy Stadium. There is a maximum charge of $5.00 for the day. Signs will be on Taylor Avenue and Rowe Boulevard directing visitors to the garage. The City Shuttle will circulate every 10 minutes from Park Place to and from downtown until 2:30 in the morning. The shuttle can be hailed from anywhere along the route and will be free of charge.
For more information about the Lights Parade, visit the Eastport Yacht Club website at [www.eastportyc.org]
* NOTE: Any commercial or editorial reference to this event must use the trademarked name, which is “Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade”
Press Contacts:
Sandra Rosswork
EYC Lights Parade Publicity Chair
410-267-8739
[sgrosswork@aol.com]
Pete Chambliss
EYC Lights Parade Chair
[petecmd@verizon.net]
410-991-4685
