The annual Naples Island Holiday Boat Parade, a cherished Long Beach tradition since 1946, has been canceled this year due to anticipated dangerously high tides and heavy surf associated with an El Niño season, organizers announced Saturday.
The Naples Improvement Association cited safety concerns for both spectators and participants as the primary reason for the cancellation. This marks the first time the event has been called off in six years, with the previous cancellation occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a modest procession has evolved into a major Long Beach institution, attracting over 100 decorated entries and an estimated 60,000 attendees.
Association president Ben Fisher stated that the decision followed weeks of deliberation and a poll of 600 respondents, a majority of whom supported canceling the parade and other holiday events in Naples this year. Forecasters predict a potent El Niño season will elevate tides by 6 to 18 inches above normal levels, exacerbated by slow, wide swells known as Kelvin waves expected to affect the Long Beach coast this winter. During the Christmas week, tides are projected to reach 7.5 to 8.5 feet, with the highest levels anticipated on Christmas Eve morning.
Compounding the weather-related concerns are ongoing frustrations with the city's alleged failure to address deteriorating infrastructure on the island. Fisher highlighted issues with the aging seawall and inadequate drainage systems, deeming the current conditions unsafe for large crowds. He noted that residents are being advised to sandbag properties, docks are being dismantled, and seawalls are visibly crumbling with exposed rebar, posing a hazard along the canals where families typically gather.
The seawall, which protects multimillion-dollar homes and the man-made canal, was identified as being in significant disrepair in a 2009 city evaluation. While a six-phase repair plan is in progress, only two phases have been completed. City officials estimate $125 million is needed to finish the seawall replacement, a project currently stalled due to reduced oil revenue and uncertain federal disaster aid. Proposed funding solutions include a 30-year bond, which could cost homeowners $5,100 annually if spread across the entire neighborhood, or $48,000 per property if limited to those along the seawalls.
Council member Kristina Duggan, whose district includes Naples, expressed her respect for the association's decision and emphasized the need to prepare the island for the upcoming weather. She confirmed that maintenance work, including sealing cold joints to reduce water seepage, will commence next week, stating that the seawalls are considered stable under high tidal pressure. Duggan conveyed anticipation for the parade's return next year.
In the interim, funds typically allocated for the parade will be redirected to acquire necessary resources such as pumps, hoses, plugs, and generators, which Fisher described as essential for the waterways and residents. The decision on whether individual residents will decorate their homes remains a personal choice.
