Newport Beach Christmas boat parade

[1] In 1907, Scarpa began taking a group of visitors from Pasadena across the Newport bay in a gondola decorated with Japanese lanterns.

In 1913, Walter Gustin decided to promote the event featuring lighted boats, called the "Illuminated Water Parade".

From here the festival grew, including fleets of rowboats, canoes, and small sailboats, as well as motorboats, power cruisers and large auxiliaries.

"[2] With the exception of a few years during World War II, the Tournament of Lights was held every summer from 1919 until 1949.

After an absence in 1948, in 1949 the Police and Fire authorities argued that the parade was drawing too many visitors to the harbor and creating heavy crowding and traffic congestion, and the event fell out of favor.