A-ho-ho-hoy! Lighted boats to spread Christmas cheer

Kent McCue once adorned his boat with snowmen.

Another year, its festive decorations included a sign reading, “Merry Christmas.”

This year, the vessel will have a Frozen theme — complete with Olaf and a real-life Elsa, played by McCue’s daughter.

For McCue, part of the joy of the Christmas Lighted Boat Parade is the creativity it requires.

“It’s fun to do something different every year,” he said.

McCue is coordinator of the annual parade, which lights up the Columbia River and helps kick off the holiday season in the Tri-Cities.

This year’s parade is Dec. 1-2.

The bevy of boats — organizers expect about 20 or so — will take off from Clover Island in Kennewick at 6 p.m. both days.

They’ll travel on along the Columbia Park shoreline, past Columbia Point to the north end of Howard Amon Park in Richland, and then turn around and head back.

The boats do an extra loop at Clover Island upon returning.

The parade lasts about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

Boats of varying sizes take part. This year, “it’s a little bit of everything, from fishing boats to one that’s a 52-footer,” McCue said.

A Water2Wine cruise boat also is in the lineup.

Clover Island Yacht Club puts on the parade, with Cedars Restaurant and Clover Island Inn as the main sponsors.

McCue recommends watching from the Kennewick or Richland shorelines, as that offers a closer-up view of the boats than on the Pasco side.

In Richland, some Winter Wonderland activities are planned at John Dam Plaza and along the river, coinciding with the parade.

McCue said inventive boat decorations are planned this year, including at least one vessel that’s sure to delight Seattle Seahawks fans.

“It’s a lot of fun,” McCue said. “Come out and enjoy it.”

More information: lightedboatparade.com/home.html.

This story was originally published November 30, 2017 at 10:26 AM with the headline "A-ho-ho-hoy! Lighted boats to spread Christmas cheer."