Are you ready to ring in the holiday season, San Diego-style? If so, book a room at the Sofia Hotel and come on down for the annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights. You’ve never seen anything like it!

The festive action all goes down starting at 5:30 p.m. on two consecutive Sundays: December 14 and 21.

A Magical Tradition

More than 80 extravagantly “decked-out” boats will create this 43rd annual round of the Parade of Lights, a holiday event treasured by San Diegans and visitors alike. The processions always have a theme, and this year’s is “Children’s Stories.”

On both Sundays, the spectacle commences from Shelter Island and then cruises to Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, and Seaport Village before concluding at the Ferry Landing in Coronado.

You’ll be amazed at the sight of these stunningly arrayed vessels in all their finery, strutting their stuff along our city’s glorious bayfront.

The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights skippers and their crews have a bit of added incentive during the festivities. A random drawing from amid the boats participating both nights will award a pretty heady Grand Prize: a Star Clippers luxury cruise.

In terms of timing, the boats will pass by Harbor Island at approximately 6 p.m., the Embarcadero at 6:30 p.m., Seaport Village at 7 p.m., and then the Ferry Landing on Coronado at 7:30 p.m., where things’ll wrap up at buoy 22a.

Front-row Seats

At the Sofia Hotel, you’re only a few blocks from the waterfront. That means that, in addition to being an all-around amazing and historic place to stay in San Diego, our fair establishment also sets you up for convenient front-row seats to the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights.

Parking can be tough to find during the parade, so our proximity gives you a great advantage. It’s easy to walk or catch public transit to fine vantages, particularly from the north and south parks of the Embarcadero—just about a mile from our doorstep!

So make your way down to the water from the Sofia on Dec. 14 or 21, and catch the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights—an unforgettable sight during this special time of year!

Image credit: Port of San Diego