Residents Help Select Theme for Christmas Boat Parade

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce received more than 160 theme ideas from the community for the annual Christmas Boat Parade, but two residents whose minds were on the same wavelength ultimately came up with the winning theme.

The 105th annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and Ring of Lights will be themed "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," an idea submitted separately by residents Judy Candelaria and Michelle Stranak, the chamber announced Wednesday. More than 160 submissions were received by chamber officials, so Candelaria and Stranak were both surprised to find out their ideas were the winners.

"Oh my, we love the parade," Candelaria, who has lived in Newport with her husband for 22 years, said. "It's a family tradition."

Candelaria said she thought the theme made sense because it was something everyone could recognize.

Stranak, who spent her first Christmas as a Newport Beach resident last year, came up with her idea last year while watching the parade and hearing the original song coming from a passing boat.
 
"My two year old grandson loved it and went crazy over the lights on the boats and the fireworks," Stranak said of last year's parade. "It was really fun!"

Chamber officials said they are looking forward to seeing how creative residents will get to decorate around the theme.      
The Christmas Boat Parade is scheduled to set sail on Wednesday, Dec. 18 and run through Sunday, Dec. 22. For submitting the winning Christmas Boat Parade theme, the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce is giving Candelaria and Stranak a free V.I.P. excursion for two on the official Lead or Santa Boat for one night of the parade.

What do you think of the selected theme for the 105th annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade? Tell us in the comments.

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