December 7, Oakland/Alameda: This year, San Francisco Bay Ferry again invites the public to ride its Alameda/Oakland service in the 37th Annual Lighted Yacht Parade on Saturday, December 7. The public can participate in the festivities by riding the Alameda/Oakland ferry, which will also be entered into the competition.
Oakland, San Francisco and Sausalito all offer spectacular boat parades this holiday season. garyferberphotography.com
Published: December, 2013
December 7, Oakland/Alameda: This year, San Francisco Bay Ferry again invites the public to ride its Alameda/Oakland service in the 37th Annual Lighted Yacht Parade on Saturday, December 7. The public can participate in the festivities by riding the Alameda/Oakland ferry, which will also be entered into the competition. The special Lighted Yacht Parade ferry service is only available from the Alameda Main Street ferry terminal located at 2990 Main Street. The ferry departs from Main Street at 5:15 p.m. and returns to the terminal at 6:45 p.m.
As in past years, the ferry service is collecting toys onboard for the Toys for Tots program. As a special thank you, customers donating a toy may ride the parade ferry for free. Fares for all other riders are: adults $6.25; youth (5 to 12 years old) $3.50; children under 5 ride for free; seniors, the disabled and Medicare recipients receive a discounted price of $3.10. Please note that Clipper cards are not accepted for this event. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis; tickets may be purchased onboard the ferry. Onboard food and beverage service will also be available. Free parking will be provided at the Main Street terminal.
For those viewing the parade from land, spectators gather along the waterfront at public viewing areas such as Wind River Park in Alameda and Jack London Square in Oakland, or at waterfront restaurants along the estuary.
December 13, San Francisco: On Friday, December 13, the Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District and the St. Francis Yacht Club join once again to present a lighted holiday boat parade on San Francisco Bay beginning at 5:30 p.m. Last year, more than 60 boats festooned with lights and holiday decorations participated in the parade along the waterfront.
A holiday tradition since 1994, the parade includes members of the St. Francis Yacht Club, Fisherman’s Wharf Fishing Fleet, Golden Gate Yacht Club, PIER 39 Marina and the Sea Scouts. The Fisherman’s Wharf Fishing Fleet will remain lit throughout the holiday season.
The parade route will begin just off of PIER 39 and proceed west past Fisherman’s Wharf, Fort Mason and the St. Francis Yacht Club before turning around at Crissy Field to return along the waterfront. Restaurants along Fisherman’s Wharf, in addition to offering a fantastic vantage point, will feature traditional holiday menus. Spectators can also enjoy wonderful views from Aquatic Park, PIER 39, the Marina Green and Crissy Field, with best viewing of this spectacular display at the Sport Fishing Harbor along Jefferson Street between Jones and Taylor.
December 14, Sausalito: Sausalito’s Lighted Boat Parade will light up the waterfront at 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 14. There will also be a fireworks display at the end of the parade, with the exact timing determined by the quantity of the boats participating. You can begin your evening at 5 p.m. at the Big Tent and Waterfront Park in downtown Sausalito. The entrance fee to the heated Big Tent is $10 per person and will feature food trucks and a bar. At 8 p.m., a dance party with TV20 host Jim Gabbert will start rocking and the Lighted Boat Parade award ceremony will take place at 10 p.m. To view this event from the water, join SF Bay Adventures aboard the classic schooner Freda B for $99 per person with snacks, mulled wine and hot chocolate included. For more information, see www.sfbayadventures.com.
Sausalito’s Lighted Boat Parade is followed by a spectacular fireworks display. garyferberphotography.com
