Morro Bay Lighted Boat Parade

It's a vivacious outing next to the famous volcanic plug.

MORRO ROCK... requires no decorations or lights or gewgaws or ornaments. It is an ancient treasure, a volcanic plug of mammoth proportions, and adding even the teensiest bow or ribbon or doodad to it would alter its perfect, and perfectly eternal, presence. That said, we're all about doing it up in the waters below the famous rock, especially when December drops anchor. And while lighted boat parades dot California's busy pre-Christmas schedule, the one in Morro Bay is truly about the most middle-y of all the merry on-the-water events. And by "middle-y" we mean that people from northern parts, southern parts, and those who live east can find their way to the bay, to see all of those sparkling ships, from bigger boats to those who hold a single person (captain and passenger, both). The date? Well, it was Dec. 3, but the 2016 glittery go-out has hopped down the calendar due to "Extreme negative tide." So if you wanted to get your rock-tastic fill in, and see some Pacific-pretty sights, go Central Coast on...

SATURDAY, DEC. 10: Look for "...skiffs, yachts, fishing boats, cutters, sailboats, and kayaks" to begin their oar-dipping around 6:30 in the evening, though the holiday tunes and Claus-y snapshots kick off earlier in the afternoon. The lighted boat parade may be admired from points around the Embarcadero, but South T-Pier is the center of the action. Bundling up? A must. Loving the pairing of nature (Morro Rock) and the Noël (Santa and shimmery skiffs)? That's a must, too, but we're just betting every visitor will arrive with both of those things in merry tow.

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