Bellingham Yacht Club Lighted Boat Parade

Bellingham Yacht Club’s Lighted Boat Parade Sparkles December 3rd.

The Bellingham Yacht Club celebrates Holiday Magic with the traditional Lighted Boat Parade on December 3, 2022 starting at 5:30 pm, weather permitting. The public is invited to view the boats showing off twinkling light displays and broadcasting holiday music. The best viewing spots are Boulevard Park and the Fairhaven Cruise Terminal. All boaters are invited to participate in the parade and all who register are eligible to win prizes.

“The Lighted Boat Parade is a Bellingham holiday tradition that families enjoy every year as our boats light up the Bay. Members of the boating community take great pride in being part of this event and the competition is always stiff,” Commodore Cathy Herbold commented. She added, “Safety on the water is extremely important as maneuvering in the dark is challenging and requires attentive crews. We are very fortunate to have the Coast Guard as a partner to provide oversight during the parade.”

A holiday party with music, food and beverages will be celebrated at the Bellingham Yacht Club following the parade. Members, guests and non-member parade participants are invited and several awards will be given for decorating excellence.
Fleet Captain David Marod is looking forward to the parade as well as many upcoming events. “Many people look at the Lighted Boat parade as the end of the year and we want to make sure it lives up to its theme…Holiday Magic! In contrast, I look at it as one of the First on-the-water events with the new Bridge and board as we plan lots of cruises, races and regattas and youth sailing for 2023. More information about the parade is available at https://byc.org/event/vKvGPP3UKI.
Some parade participants plan elaborate displays far in advance and spend many hours decorating their boats. Last year’s winner Seahome, pictured below, used over 3,000 LED lights. Other participants take a more modest approach and all have a wonderful time seeing each other’s creativity and ingenuity.

Want to come to the party but don’t have a boat or not planning to decorate? It’s not too late to join the BYC. New members are welcomed to join the Bellingham Yacht Club at any time and neither boat ownership nor sponsorship is required.
Founded in 1925, the BYC byc.org offers year-round social activities and extensive racing and cruising programs in season. BYC is the only yacht club in Whatcom County that is located on the marina docks and offers an extensive youth program, full-service bar, and member-exclusive access to an out-station on Lummi Island. For more information about joining, go to https://byc.org/membership.