This year the parade is in named in honor of former Newport harbormaster, Tim Mills, who passed away suddenly last year.   Tim was a longtime advocate of the boat parade from its inaugural event in 1997 when he participated as boat owner and then as leader of the community event.

Viewing of the parade is free of charge, making this a great family event to get into the spirit of the holiday season.  Parade boats will rendezvous just south of the Goat Island Causeway and then proceed east passing Newport Yacht Club. Boats will then travel south along the downtown waterfront and then turn west to pass the Kings Park area. Fort Adams and then finish at the Goat Island Causeway.   The Best vantage points for spectators include Newport Yacht Club, Perrotti Park, Bowen’s Wharf, Bannister’s Wharf, and points around Newport Harbor.

“This year, the parade committee is delighted to have chosen Margaret Mary “Muffin” Dubuc, as Parade Marshall,” states Harbormaster Steve Land.  “Muffin, a local Newporter and avid sailor, was commodore of the Goat Island Yacht Club, a volunteer and fundraiser for many historic sailing events and regattas, and a consummate friend of the Newport waterfront.  The parade itself will feature a variety of watercraft that call Narragansett Bay home, including leisure boats of all sizes, commercial boats, fishing boats, and U.S. Coast Guard and Navy vessels,” added Land.

Magnificently decorated vessels will compete for first place awards in the following categories: Best Decorated Sailboat (commercial and recreational), Best Decorated Powerboat (commercial and recreational), Best Decorated Fishing Boat, and arguably, the parade’s most entertaining category, The Tim Mills Team Spirit Award newly named this year.  After the parade, an awards ceremony will immediately follow at The Newport Yacht Club, and the first-place prize winners will be announced.

Organizers encourage participants and spectators to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center.  Items will be collected at the Newport Yacht Club.

Any organization, business, or boat owner that would like to participate in the 25th Annual Newport Illuminated Boat Parade should contact Sara Mariani at the Newport Harbormasters office at (401) 845-5815. Participants are asked to REGISTER FOR BOAT PARADE ONLINE by 12:00 p.m. on November 25.  If the weather is questionable on the day of the parade, a recorded message will be available at (401) 845-5815.  The event is sponsored by The City of Newport, The Newport Yacht Club, and Discover Newport.