December 15- 23, 2011 Huntington Harbour Cruise of
Lights Boat Tour. 49th annual narrated boat tour
through December 23 includes boat ride & viewing of
holiday lit homes in Huntington Harbour. Huntington
Harbour Philharmonic Committee presents their annual
Cruise of Lights with decorated boats, decks, docks
and homes. Proceeds benefit the Philharmonic
Society's music outreach programs. Time: 5:30;
6:30; 7:30; 8:30 p.m. Cost: $17 adult; $10 child age
2-12 years. Parking: Free at Huntington Harbour Mall, 16889
Algonquin St. Huntington Beach, CA. Phone: (714)
840-7542. cruiseoflights.org
Cruise
of Lights in Huntington Beach is an
annual holiday fun
event held in Huntington Harbour. Tourists and
Huntington Beach residents pack their kids, moms, dads,
husbands and wives and hop aboard boats that cruise the
waterways of Huntington. A show of twinkling holiday
lights includes several nautical miles of mansion house
displays with animated snowmen, Rudolph, Santa Claus and
Surf City - Southern California themes with palm trees,
dolphins and also some religious displays in honor of
Christmas and Hanukkah. Return to
photos
Sponsored
each year by an incredible staff of volunteers whose
only goal is to raise huge sums of money to fund the
musical programs in the public schools, they launch each
annual event with a check presentation to the music
teachers and principles at many of the Huntington Beach
schools.
While it's
possible to rent a Duffy electric boat on Pacific Coast
Highway and Sunset Beach, some who have done said say
they will ride the Cruise of Lights boats this year
because the traffic and waterways are better suited for
seasoned boat captains in the very busy evenings and
nights that bring out Huntington Harbour residents who
own boat docks and yachts.
Tourists
from Los Angeles drive down to experience the fun but
like the Pageant of the Masters, you're better off
buying tickets in advance. The Huntington Harbour Cruise
of Lights is a branch of the Orange County Philharmonic,
supporting the performing arts and especially musical
programs. Throughout the year students are provided
opportunities for field trips to the Orange County
Performing Arts Center to view concerts, plays and
receive behind-the-scenes tours of the Performing Arts
Center. The public can also attend free public tours of
the Center or can purchase tickets to their concerts and
musicals.
Parking
for the Cruise of Lights is located and the Huntington
Harbour Mall where several restaurants are located. For
those seeking an early meal before the 45-minute to 1
hour cruise, you might consider a restaurant at the mall
called House of Brews. This restaurant with a club
atmosphere includes a full menu, cocktail bar and pool
tables.
Nearby restaurants
include Harpoon Harry's,
J. King Neptune's, Sam's Seafood, Captain
Jack's, Mahe, Super Mex, Mimi's,
California Pizza
Kitchen and many more for after
cruise dining or eating before hand.
