Huntington Beach Cruise of Lights

Huntington Harbor Cruise of Lights
Huntington Beach, CA
This seasonal event is held every December

In most places, people hop in their cars and take a drive to see the most-decorated, lighted-up homes they can find during the holiday season. In Huntington Beach, they take the boat out instead. Along the waterways that run between Huntington's manmade islands, the lighted decorations on the multi-million-dollar homes face the water, and the effect is magical, with each home's sparkling display doubled in its reflection in the water.

The displays range from simple white lights to extravagant spectacles created by professional lighting installers. In past years, these have included dancing snowmen, a blinking Menorah, a home transformed into a mountain with a railroad twisting around its edges and an inflatable Uncle Sam nearly large enough to have been in the Macy's Parade.

Thousands of visitors come to see the show every year, many of them cruising in their own boats, shouting "Merry Christmas" to each other as they pass. The effect brings to mind a small town, a rare, old-fashioned charm.

For those who don't have their own watercraft, the Huntington Harbor Cruise of Lights offers a way to join the fun. The 45-minute cruise runs nightly for a week, starting in mid-December. Reservations are a must.

Tips for the Huntington Harbor Cruise of Lights