The 65th Annual Christmas Boat Lane Parade will launch from South Shore Harbour Marina on Saturday, Dec. 12, sending more than 60 decorated power and sailboats down the Clear Lake channel to Galveston Bay.

The parade runs from 6 to 9 p.m., according to the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's event page. Fireworks over Nassau Bay signal the start. Boats from the Nassau Bay Lagoon join boats leaving South Shore Harbour Marina, and the combined fleet travels the full length of Clear Lake and through the Kemah Channel past the Kemah Boardwalk, according to Living Vogue Real Estate's parade guide.

Six cities present the event: Clear Lake Shores, Kemah, League City, Nassau Bay, Seabrook and Webster.

The tradition started more than six decades ago when five Bay Area Houston friends put Christmas lights on their boats and cruised Clear Lake on a whim, according to Visit League City's winter guide. One of those five was Red Adair, the oil well firefighter John Wayne later portrayed in Hellfighters. The parade's top honor, the Red Adair Award for Best Overall Boat, bears his name.

Where to watch

The Chamber lists six public viewing areas: Kemah Boardwalk, both sides of the Kemah/Seabrook Channel, Nassau Bay Lagoon, South Shore Harbour Marina, Clear Lake Shores and Davis Road Canal/Constellation Pointe.

Visit League City calls the Kemah Boardwalk the best public spot. At the marina, spectators can see the boats head out around 6 p.m. The parade reaches the Kemah Boardwalk around 7:30 p.m., according to Living Vogue's guide. Local boat charters also offer viewing excursions, according to Visit League City.

For boaters

The Chamber requires every entry to send one representative to a 9 a.m. skipper's meeting at South Shore Harbour Resort, 2500 South Shore Blvd. in League City. Entry-number pickup closes at 10 a.m. Boats must be lit and decorated on both port and starboard sides and display their entry number near the front, according to Living Vogue's summary of the registration form.

Every entry receives a skipper's gift bag and two tickets to the Awards Brunch, held Sunday, Dec. 13, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the resort's Crystal Ballroom. Questions go to the Chamber's Shari Sweeney at 281-488-7676, according to Living Vogue.

Holiday calendar

  • Saturday, Nov. 28: Nutcracker in the Park, 9 a.m.–6 p.m., League Park, 512 2nd St.
  • Dec. 4–6: 29th Annual Holiday in the Park, League Park
  • Saturday, Dec. 5: Grand Night Parade on Main Street; music at 5:30 p.m., parade at 6:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Dec. 12: Christmas in Old League City, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., League City Historical Society
  • Saturday, Dec. 12: 65th Annual Christmas Boat Lane Parade, 6 p.m., Clear Lake