One of the region’s most cherished holiday traditions, the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, will once again transform the waterfront into a glittering spectacle this December. The annual event features a festive fleet of boats adorned with thousands of lights and creative decorations.
For over five decades, the parade has offered a magical nighttime display, with vessels ranging from sailboats to yachts navigating the bay in a celebration of fantasy and Christmas spirit.
This year’s edition will be held on two consecutive Sundays: December 14 and December 21, 2025. Organizers have announced the theme as “An Out of This World Christmas,” inviting participants and spectators alike to imagine a celestial holiday in which Santa is an astronaut, elves are luminous aliens, and boats are glowing spacecraft skimming across the water.
The celebration typically attracts crowds of up to 100,000 spectators over its two nights. Admission is free, with prime viewing available from numerous public parks, piers, and waterfront walkways along the route. There are even several local companies offer dinner cruises that follow the parade route.
A Magical Route
The parade will launch at 5:30 p.m. from Shelter Island, progressing past some of the bay’s most iconic vistas. The scheduled route and approximate viewing times are:
- Shelter Island (Start): 5:30 p.m.
- Harbor Island: 5:45 – 6:15 p.m.
- Seaport Village: 6:20 – 6:45 p.m.
- The Embarcadero: 6:50 – 7:15 p.m.
- Pier at Cesar Chavez Park: 7:20 – 7:30 p.m.
- Coronado Ferry Landing (Finale): 7:40 p.m.
San Diego’s Five-Decade Parade of Lights Tradition
The Parade of Lights began in the early 1970s as a grassroots community effort to celebrate the season from San Diego Bay. What started as a modest procession of illuminated boats has flourished into a cornerstone of the region’s holiday festivities.
Over the years, the parade has grown in scale and creativity, encouraging participants to interpret annual themes with originality and flair. Today, it stands not only as a dazzling light show but as an enduring symbol of shared joy and coastal celebration for San Diego residents and visitors alike.
