“Is Santa Going to be at the Lighted Boat Parade tonight?”

This just in from the North Pole … sources confirm that Santa is currently on his way to Morro Bay and should arrive sometime before 6:30 when the when the 2013 Lighted Boat Parade starts. Earlier this morning the Jolly Old Elf’s sleigh was spotted over Central Oregon, and Santa was later seen stopping in a Northern California Denny’s where, over milk and cookies, he was preparing a list entitled: “Boys and Girls of the Morro Bay Lighted Boat Parade”.  In Morro Bay, he will spend most his time at the South T Pier where there will also be refreshments and Christmas music.  It is not known yet whether he will be in the parade or not, or just where his reindeer will be waiting for him, but it has been inferred that they will be waiting out at the sandspit, to whisk him back to the North Pole as soon as the parade is over.  With only 10 days left before his big night, he will be pressed for time. Come on out tonight to the Lighted Boat Parade so you can say hi to Santa and watch some beautiful lighted boats float the bay.

“What’s the weather supposed to be like for the Lighted Boat Parade?”

The weather for the re-scheduled 2013 Lighted Boat Parade looks to be much better than last Saturday when high winds and chilly, rainy weather forced it to be postponed. The current forecast for Saturday is partly cloudy skies with high of 70 degrees (around 60 degrees at parade time) and very little wind. The tree-lighting ceremonies already took place last Friday, as scheduled, so now there’s just the parade which will still start at 6:30. The entrants have had an extra week to prepare, so it should be a great parade. They will be competing for trophies in three areas: Best Spirit, Best Creativity, and Best Lighting.  Make a trip to Morro Bay to see who brings home the bling this year.

“So this is where they filmed ‘The Birds,’ huh?”

Sorry. Morro Bay would have been the ideal location for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 horror classic The Birds, but it was filmed in Bodega Bay, about 300 miles up the coast. I don’t know why people mistake Morro Bay for Bodega Bay, probably because not too many small California fishing villages have served as the setting for movies about flocks of murderous birds.

“Are they still having the Lighted Boat Parade this Saturday?”

By now you’ve probably heard that the 2013  Lighted Boat Parade has been postponed and rescheduled for this upcoming Saturday, the 14th of December. Same festive tree-lighting, music, food, and majestic lighted boat show waiting for you, just one week later. Keep checking with wheninmorrobay.com for updates throughout the week.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a theater here, would you?”

As a matter of fact, we do, and it’s a nice one. It’s called the Bay Theatre and it can be found at 464 Morro Bay Boulevard with its big blue-and-pink marquee. It’s one of the few remaining one-screen theaters left in the country and is both roomy and comfortable.

“Where should I watch the Lighted Boat Parade From?”

There are several spots to get a good view of the Lighted Boat Parade from. It starts at Tidelands (Anchor Street) Park and the turnaround point is the South T Pier – that covers about a mile of waterfront.  Along the way there are numerous parks, piers, and docks around and between the businesses. 

“When is that brig coming back?”

“That what?” I had to ask this guest. I found out he was talking about the Lady Washington – the tall ship that had just left after four days in our harbor.He was obviously a boat man, and I obviously wasn’t, but he could tell by just looking at the tall-ship Lady Washington that it was a “brig” as opposed to a brigantine, a barque, or a schooner.  

“Is there a good map of the town?”

It seems like every time there’s a good map of Morro Bay it gets discontinued or cancelled. Maybe because Morro Bay is hard to map.It’s only 5.16 square miles but because it’s so narrow, a good portion of North Morro Bay always seems to get cut out of any standard fold-out map.

“Is there a Starbucks in town?”

Yes there is but it’s inside Albertsons supermarket and is technically an Albertson’s operation. Albertsons can be found in the Cypress Plaza at 730 Quintana Road, and Starbucks can be found just inside the main entrance.

“How many restaurants are going to be open on Thanksgiving Day?”

Sixteen at last count. If you’re thinking, that’s a lot of places, for a town of 10,000 people, I agree. I don’t know if more locals are eating out instead of at home, if more people are traveling on Thanksgiving, or if it’s a combination of the two.

“Can you climb Morro Rock?”

You can if you want to be arrested and fined. Once or twice a year someone tries it and because it’s a thing that’s so seldomly attempted, the “adventurer” is easily spotted, reported, and hauled off before they can even turn around to enjoy the view.

“How close are you to the wineries?”

When in Morro Bay you’re never more than a few minutes away from one of two world-famous wine areas. The Edna Valley Wine Area, located between the cities of Arroyo Grande and San Luis Obispo consists of about 30 wineries that are known for their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah.

“Have you heard anything more about the Lighted Boat Parade?”

The 2013 Lighted Boat Parade is a go, and details are starting to trickle in. As in past years, the pre-parade festivities will start at the City Park at 4:30 but this year, at 2pm, locals and visitors will meet at the Morro Bay Visitors Center at 255 Morro Bay Boulevard, for refreshments before embarking on the first ever Morro Bay Holiday Stroll.  

“Is Windows on the Water doing their Thanksgiving thing again this year?”

Yes, once again Windows On The Water will be bringing together tradition and fine dining with a three-course spread that features Roasted Pumpkin Bisque, Braised Range-Grown Turkey, prime rib, and pumpkin and pecan pie.

“What’s that big old sailboat doing here?”

That’s the tall ship Lady Washington from the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority out of Aberdeen, Washington and she’ll be docked outside Sub Sea Tours in the 600 block of Embarcadero Street, until the 24^th.

“Are those seals or sea lions barking out there?”

If you’re referring to those dark, slick-coated, beasts crowded onto that free-floating dock in the middle of the bay, making all that racket for no apparent reason, they’re California Sea Lions. But they’re also seals. Seals (harbor, harp, gray, elephant), sea lions, and walruses, are all members of the Pinniped family, or what we usually call seals.

“Is there anything going on in December in Morro Bay?”

December in Morro Bay can be kind of magical. Around the end of November, City workers go around and wrap our downtown palms and eucalyptus in white lights, the big tree at City Park gets a makeover, Santa (under police escort) cruises around in the trolley handing out gifts to children, and the hillsides of North Morro Bay come alight with decorated homes and yards.

“Where can I catch the game?”

Why, when you’ve got a nice quiet room and TV waiting for you, would you want to leave the hotel to watch the game somewhere else? Any armchair quarterback knows the answer to that. You don’t just want hoops, football or baseball, you want it with food, drink, and like-minded fanatics.

“Is there a pharmacy nearby?”

We have two in Morro Bay. Rite Aid Pharmacy (805-772-6198) is located in the Cypress Plaza at 740 Quintana Road and a couple blocks over, at the corner of Morro Bay Blvd and Shasta, is locally-owned Morro Bay Drug & Gift (805-771-9988).

“Will my kids like the Lighted Boat Parade?”

The White Caps Community Band is a collection of local musicians (mostly senior citizens) that perform at public and non-profit events throughout Morro Bay and the surrounding area, and I’m told they perform at our Lighted Boat Parade every year.