Unless you live in a town that is located on or near the water, this might be the first time you’ve heard of a Christmas boat parade. Well, a floating fleet of ships is just as festive as many other light shows, and, in my opinion, it’s a bit more impressive that folks rig up their boats with creative light displays! Attending one of these parades would be a jolly good time for the whole family or a date night with your sweetheart. Even if a boat parade is not near you, keep reading to enjoy the pictures!
The Newport Christmas Boat Parade first started in 1907 when a man carried a few folks across the bay in his gondola decorated with Japanese lanterns. Over the last century, the parade has morphed from its humble beginnings into a wildly popular event that draws visitors from all over country. In fact, the New York Times named it “one of the top ten holiday happenings in the nation” in 2002. With over 200 boats and many houses and docks decorated for the occasion, it’s no surprise why this event is such a success!
You can watch the parade from multiple locations around the bay, including various restaurants. Click here for more viewing information. Want to upgrade your experience? You can observe the parade from a yacht; reserve tickets here.
December 16–20, 2015
6:30pm–9:00pm
Admission: Free!
Route map (click to download)
If you live near the Washington, D.C./Alexandria area, you’ll want to make plans to go to the boat parade on the Potomac River. There will be fun festivities for everyone, so bring the whole family! Although the activities vary depending which side of the river you’re on, both sides will have live music, photos with Santa, and a brilliant display of lights. For more details of this event, check out the Facebook page.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
5:00pm–8:00pm
Admission: Free!
The residents of San Diego will enjoy yet another dashing display of Christmas lights in this year’s Parade of Lights. The 2015 theme is “Christmas Around The World,” and I’m sure it will be an impressive sight to behold! Spectators who want to learn tidbits of info about the participating boats can camp out near an announcers’ area. (The two announcers’ areas are located at Coronado Landing and Maritime Museum on the Embarcadero.)
Sunday, December 13 and Sunday, December 20, 2015
5:30pm–7:30pm
Admission: Free!
Route map (click to view)
The Christmas Ships Parade in Portland is not just a single parade, but a series of parades! For 15 nights in December, dedicated skippers sail their boats up and down the Columbia River and Willamette River. The parade routes vary by date and by river, so be sure to check the schedule(s) ahead of time to plan your outing.
December 4–20, 2015 (No parade on the 6th or 14th.)
Start times vary by date and location
Admission: Free!
Columbia River
- View the full schedule here.
- Download the printable guide here.
Willamette River
- View the full schedule here.
- Download the printable guide here.
The first ever Venice Christmas Boat Parade hit the Intracoastal Waterway in 1989 with a showing of 41 boats. Now, over thirty years later, the Venice tradition still delights the community with its glowing procession of decorated vessels. In the spirit of giving, the Venice Christmas Boat Parade, along with its sponsors, benefits boating activities for youth and funds a marine sciences scholarship!
Saturday, December 5, 2015
6:00pm
Admission: Free!
Route map (click to view)
Any recipient of this dreaming deer Christmas card would be pleased to open such an elegant, yet whimsical, holiday greeting. A single red robin is perched on the deer’s berry-filled antlers as if to keep him company. Printed on cotton rag paper with archival inks, this lovely design will last for years to come. Simply place the card in a frame and mix it into one’s holiday decor.
Happy December, everyone! We’ve been counting down the days until Christmas all year long, but now the big day is only 24 days away. Yippee! To celebrate our favorite month, here’s a heaping helping of holiday spirit—a cozy desktop calendar featuring Raymond the reindeer.
To download the free wallpaper, click on one of the sizes above and then right-click (Windows) or Control+click (Mac) the image and choose “Save Image As…”
Enjoy this delightful December wallpaper from northpole.com!
December starts tomorrow, which means that the holiday season is now in full swing. Does your Christmas to do list have you stressed? No need to worry, as we elves are here to help. We’ve compiled a list of some Cyber Monday/Cyber Week deals to help you with your holiday shopping. Plus, several of the companies below are offering free shipping on top of some already excellent savings! So fix a cup of cocoa, get cozy on the sofa with your laptop or tablet, and have fun shopping!
(Psst… If you are looking for more good deals, check out these Black Friday Deals—some of them are still good through tonight.)
1-800-Flowers
Sending fresh flowers is a classic way to give a festive holiday gift to your grandmother, aunt, or a friend who lives across the country. Did you know that you can place your order now and have it shipped closer to Christmas? Yep, it’s true! So go ahead and order today and save 25% off flowers and gifts with code BFCM25. Valid until 12/6/2015 at 11:59pm EST.
Juice Beauty
If you’ve been looking for organic skin care products for yourself or a loved one, you’ll want to check out the award-winning products at Juice Beauty. Get 20% off and free shipping by using code CM2015 at checkout. Valid until 11/30 at 11:59pm PDT.
Kohl’s
Kohl’s is a great place to shop for shoes, clothing, home decor, and more. One of my favorite things about Kohl’s is that you can stack up the savings with multiple coupon codes. Some of these deals are good today only, so catch them before they’re gone!
- $10 off $50 home goods purchase with code COZYUP. Valid 11/30 only.
- $10 off $50 apparel purchase with code JACKPOT. Valid 11/30 only.
- $10 off $50 outerwear, cold weather accessories, and cold weather boots with code BUNDLEUP. Valid 12/2 only.
- $10 off $50 sleepwear and slippers for the family with code SLEEPTIGHT. Valid 12/3 only.
- Get an ADDITIONAL 20% off sitewide with code NOVTAKE20. Valid until 12/1.
The Land of Nod
The fun, whimsical toys and room decorations at The Land of Nod make me wish I was a kid again! Classic books, unique toys, and fanciful playhouses are just a few of the things that the Land of Nod has to offer. Need ideas for stocking stuffers? They’ve got you covered. Today Land of Nod is offering 20% off and free shipping!
Macy’s
Is there a designer handbag or a fabulous pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing for someone on your gift list? Macy’s has sales across their whole site, plus you can get an extra 20% and free shipping with code CYBER. Valid 11/30.
Minted
December is just one day away, and if you haven’t thought about your Christmas cards yet, now is the time to get them! The Cyber Monday deals at Minted.com are 20% off holiday cards and 25% off other select products. Perhaps you can give a lovely photo calendar to your grandparents or create personalized wrapping paper for gifts. Use code CM2015. Valid 11/30 until 11:59pm PT.
NFL Shop
Is there a sports nut or two on your holiday list? Grab some game day gear so they can flaunt their favorite football jersey or team colors. This Cyber Monday deal at NFLShop.com can’t be beat! Save 20% on orders over $25 with code CM2015. Valid 11/30.
Omaha Steaks
This is Omaha Steaks’ best offer of the season! Order a gift for your loved ones or stock your fridge with delicious meal solutions for upcoming holiday dinners. Head over to OmahaSteaks.com to get free steaks, free shipping, and save up to 60%.
The Body Shop
I love the assortment of body care products at The Body Shop, as you can find moisturizers, skin care essentials, fragrance mists, candles, and more. Their gift sets make it easy to find presents for the men and women on your holiday list! With their Cyber Monday promo, you can get 50% off and free shipping. Valid 11/30–12/1.
Walmart
You can find great prices on familiar brands all week long at Walmart.com. Need trinkets, toys, and candy to fill several stockings? Find all that and more here!
Need More Gift Ideas?
If you are still looking for gift ideas to finish up your Christmas shopping, head on over to the Gift Shop where we have tons of fabulous elf-selected presents for everyone on your list!
Right now I’m head over heels for anything wool! (If you saw the wool blanket I highlighted a few days ago, maybe you will be, too. ;)) This fuzzy little fawn is needle-felted onto fabric and surrounded by hand-stitched trees and stars. The willow wreath frames the design, adding to its woodland charm. Whether placed on a wall, a shelf, or a Christmas tree, this lovely hoop art will add a whimsical touch wherever it goes!
