History of the Newport Beach Boat Parade
The Newport Beach Boat Parade beginnings were a far cry from what you will witness these days in the parade. Newport Beach Boat Parade began in 1907 with John Scarpa an Italian gondolier and Joseph Beek a developer and owner of the Balboa Ferry Line. The tradition began with John Scarpa taking a group of visitors from Pasadena across the bay in a gondola decorated with Japanese lanterns. A year later the first lighted boat parade took place. Scarpa along with his fellow small boat operators put together a loosely organized event consisting of nine vessels. The parade illuminated by Japanese lanterns was led by Scarpa’s gondola and followed by eight canoes.
In 1913 what was then called the Illuminated Water Parade was held again. The boats were judged and prizes for the best decorated and most spectacularly lit vessels were given. A larger parade followed in 1914 and in 1915 an even larger parade was held. As many as forty launches, canoes and rowboats participated in the celebration. The spectacular event featured a derelict boat hull that was set afire, followed by a dramatic “rescue” of passengers, also a “Battle of Fireworks” between two launches and the explosion of two underwater mines took place. It is hard to imagine underwater mines going off and a burning ship in today’s Newport Harbor!
After 1915 there would be no parade for several years. This was due in part by World War I and a severe depression hitting Newport Harbor. It was not until 1919 that Joseph Beek brought the parade back to life. Joseph constructed floats in his garage and then towed the decorated floats around the harbor. The main spectators and participants were children.
