32nd Annual Parade of Lights 2018

By Joanne A Calitri   |   December 20, 2018
The 1st Place Commercial Fishing boat winner, Bernard Friedman with his boat, Perseverance

On Sunday, December 9th, the 32nd Annual Parade of Lights Boat Show was held at Stearns Wharf and seen along the city beachfront from west to east beaches. This year marked the return of the event from 2016, as SB Waterfront decided for the safety of our citizens to cancel it last year due to the Thomas Fire. The parade, founded by Captain Don Hedden, past president of the Stearns Wharf Business Association in 1985, is a holiday favorite. With it comes Santa, goodie bags for the kids, the annual harbor tree lighting, the boat parade contest, and concludes with a fireworks show launched from West Beach.

The boat contest theme for 2018 was Hollywood Holidays. There are three winners in each boat category, complete with trophies, gifts, and cash prizes. Boat parade participants enter for free under the categories: human-powered, power, sail, power, or commercial other vessels.

Thanks to the SB City Waterfront, I was given my usual bird’s eye view of the parade in the judge’s loft to take photos, upstairs at the Deep Sea Tasting Room patio. Captain David Bacon is the Master of Ceremonies with his wife, Cathy, announcing each boat as it “poses” in front of the judges while cruising along the harbor from East Beach going west. Boats are judged on a scale of 1 to 5 for use of lights, interpretation of the parade theme and overall impression. Judges were Mark Danielson General Manager KEYT, John Koontz SB Yacht Club Commodore, Cathy Murillo SB Mayor, Ken Oplinger President and CEO Chamber of Commerce SB Region, and Kristen Sneddon SB City Councilmember.

Grand Prize and First Place Sail Winner Shawn Hughes with his team and presenters Skip Abed and Mick Kronman at the 2018 Parade of Lights awards

Skip Abed, SB Sailing Center owner, with Mick Kronman, Harbor Operations Manager, presented the awards ceremony held at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, courtesy of Greg Gorga, Executive Director of the museum. Announced at the event, Dominique Samario, SB Waterfront Public Information Officer, who has been administrating the event for the past 10 years, has accepted a position with the City of Goleta. She has done a remarkable job and we wish her the best. Kronman was also recognized for 19 years of dedicated service to the Parade of Lights.

The Boat Parade of Lights Winners are: 

Grand Prize Best Overall: Shawn Hughes, S.S. Minnow 

Commercial Fishing Boat 1st Place: Bernard Friedman, Perseverance

Commercial Other 1st Place: Cliff Albritton, Channel Cat

Power Boat 1st Place: Shawn Hughes, S.S. Minnow 

Sail Boat 1st Place: Barbara Mullen, Sirocco

Human Power 1st Place: Frank Dumong, Santa

Golden Bilge Pump Award [least points]: Tim Strand, Calico 

Sponsors included The City of Santa Barbara, Harbor Merchants Associations, Stearns Wharf Business Association, the Santa Barbara Yacht Club, Conway Family Wines, K-Lite & KYTD Radio, and Haagen Printing.

The 1st Place Commercial Other boat winner, Cliff Albritton, and his Channel Cat
1st Place Sailboat winner Barbara Mullen with her boat, Sirocco
Accepting her 1st place award is Barbara Mullen with her team wearing their lightening gloves, and presenters Skip Abed and Mick Kronman
SB Maritime Museum Executive Director Greg Gorga wins 2nd place powerboat in the 2018 Parade of Lights, with Skip Abed presenting
Mick Kronman receives an award for his 19 years of service with the SB Parade of Lights, with Skip Abed presenting
 

You might also be interested in...

Advertisement
  • Woman holding phone

    Support the
    Santa Barbara non-profit transforming global healthcare through telehealth technology