San Pedro Boat Parade Tonight, Holiday Parade on Sunday

The 48th annual Los Angeles Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade in San Pedro kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Port of Los Angeles’ Main Channel tonight.

With the theme of “Peace on Earth,” officials and community leaders will take part in the parade as judges or passengers on approximately 50 parade boats. Vessels of all shapes and sizes will participate, including powerboats, sailboats, tall ships and harbor working craft.

To read the complete article in the Daily Breeze about these events, go to http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_16772382 .

The parade, which is sponsored by the Port of Los Angeles, starts in the East Basin near Banning’s Landing Community Center in Wilmington and takes approximately 90 minutes to cover the entire parade route up the Port’s Main Channel. Spectators may view the procession from several points along the Port’s Main Channel, including the Banning’s Landing Community Center, 100 E. Water Street, Wilmington; the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, 600 Sampson Way, San Pedro; Ports O’ Call Village, 1100 Nagoya Way, San Pedro; the Cruise Ship Promenade at Harbor Boulevard and Swinford Street in San Pedro; 22nd Street Landing, 141 W. 22nd Street, San Pedro; and Cabrillo Marina, 200 Whaler’s Walk, San Pedro.

Viewers are invited to enjoy festive pre-parade events beginning at 3 p.m. at Banning’s Landing Community Center and post-parade Fanfare Fountain holiday program at 8 p.m. at the entrance to the World Cruise Center in San Pedro.

Harbor Area holiday festivities continue on Sunday, when the 30th Holiday Spirit of San Pedro Parade kicks off at 1 p.m. Celebrating the theme “Focus on Youth,” the parade begins at the intersection of 15th Street and Pacific Avenue, then heads north to Sixth Street and then moves east to the Liberty Plaza. The parade’s community grand marshals will be Ralph Appy and Jerry Amalfitano, founders of the San Pedro Field of Dreams.