“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.  The Stroll will go through Old Town Morro Bay exploring the hidden Christmas deals of the shops and galleries on Main Street and Morro Bay Boulevard. After the Stroll, there’s songs, cider, Santa, and tree-lighting at the City Park and then it’s off to the feature event, down on the Embarcadero – the 2013 Lighted Boat Parade. The White Caps Community Band will be down there playing your favorite carols and there will be hot drink and food vendors as well. There are two announcing stations this year – one at the South T Pier and one at the Morro Bay Yacht Club.  Find a viewing spot close to either one of these spots and you can get a play-by-play broadcast as the 20 or so entrants (all competing for awards, mind you) cruise by.  For those of you who like a little bourbon with your boated lights –  I mean, lighted boats – the Libertines from the Libertine Pub have taken over Coleman Park to offer you a lighted boat parade “viewing experience like no other.” It’s called Yuletide at the Tide and for $55 in advance or $65 at the door, you get a luxury lounger to sit in, fire pits to keep you warm, food, beer, and bourbon-tasting. Visit the Yuletide at the Tide Facebook page to find out more.