39th Annual Parade of Lights is a Candy Cane Cove

The 39^th Annual Parade of Lights was held on Sunday, December 14, from 3 pm through to the 7:30 pm holiday fireworks display. The boat entries were the best yet this year, with their interpretation of the 2025 contest theme, “Candy Cane Cove.” Indeed, there were lights shaped like candy canes, some as high as the mainsail. Santa and elves were dressed in candy cane colors, two boats were singing carols to the judges with a call and response – “when I say Merry you say… Christmas!” – and there were more unique takes on the theme, providing strong competition for the coveted Grand Prize and First Place wins. 

Parade of Lights Committee Chair Captain Skip Abed, who is the SB Harbor Merchants Association President, is in charge of the awards ceremony and gifts for the winners from event sponsors. He announced at the award party that this year the cash prizes doubled, bringing $500 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third place, in addition to gift cards, wine, and more from sponsoring merchants.

The judging of boat parade contestants starts at 3 pm for the Human Powered category, the daylight hour a safety consideration as they paddle along the SB Harbor. They shared the scene with a “Winter Wonderland” across from Brophy’s Restaurant. Here kids of all ages met Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their elves in 10 feet of snow. Happy kids received brown gift bags filled with coloring books, toys, and more. 

The boat contest for the power and sail boats starts at 5:30 pm. The parade route, led by the SB Harbor Patrol, has the boats cruise east along Leadbetter Beach to the Cabrillo Pavilion, turn around and go west to Stearns Wharf, passing on the right side for the judges who are perched on the outside deck of the Moby Dick Restaurant. From there, they return to their boat slip in the harbor to clear the waterways for the fireworks show. Total entrants this year was over 30 in the power and sail categories and 10 contestants in the human power category.

Grand Prize and 1^st Place Power Boat Winner: William Hahn,boat #31 Blue Haven

1^st Place Commercial Fishing Boat: Bernard Freidman, boat #24 Perseverance

1^st Place Commercial Other Boat: Spencer MacRae, boat #14 Kelpie

1^st Place Sailboat: Ryan McCord, boat #27 Rascal

1^st Place Human Power boat: Shawn Hughes

The Parade of Lights event is organized by Angela Rodriguez,the City of SB Waterfront Administrative Analyst II and Public Information Officer, who does a stellar job. Assisting with duties for over 15 years are Captain Dave Bacon with his wife Cathy as emcees, and tallying the scores were Angela, Damian Gadal, and Karina Arroyo.

Each year, I am honored with a VIP pass to join the official judges’ perch to take great photos for our readers and get the full BTS insider info. The judge’s party is hosted at The Moby Dick Restaurant by Karl Hutterer, Treasurer of The Stearns Wharf Business Association. The announcement of the winners took place at Gracie Restaurant in the SB Harbor.

The 2025 Parade Judges were Moby Dick Operations Manager Logan Goldberg who stepped in for Mayor Rowse, Jaime Diamond of Santa Barbara Landing/Coral Sea Sportfishing/ Stardust Sportfishing, President ofStern’s Wharf Business Association and G.M. of Celebration Cruises Rebecca Buel, Harbor Commission Chair Adam Stanowick, and the 2024 SB Yacht Club Commodore Jeff Berkus. Their job is to score each boat entrant based on the vessel’s lights and decorations fidelity to the parade theme, their effective use of lights on the vessel, and their vessel’s overall wow factor in the parade.

Big shout outs to the local businesses that provided the prizes for the boat entrants: Sponsoring Businesses for Parade Competition Prizes: Boat Launch Mini Mart, Brass Bear, Brophy Bros., Celebration Cruises, Channel Island Expedition, Dive Santa Barbara, Harbor Marine Works, Harbor Market, Harbor Merchant Association, Lil’ Toot, Paddle Sports Center, Salty Dog Dive Service, Santa Barbara Fuel Dock, Santa Barbara Landing, Santa Barbara Marine Services, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara Parasail, Santa Barbara Sailing Center, Santa Barbara Sea Center, Santa Barbara Yacht Club, Santa Barbara Zoo, Stardust Sport Fishing, Stearns Wharf Business Association, The Brewhouse, Waterfront Department Parking Division, and Whisper.

This year’s Parade of Lights event is put on by the 2025 Parade of Lights Committee and sponsored by the City of Santa Barbara Waterfront Department, Santa Barbara Harbor Merchants Association, Stearns Wharf Business Association, and the Santa Barbara Yacht Club.