Driving through Candy Cane Lanes and Christmas displays is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit every year, but there’s something about the walkable experience on Newport Beach’s Balboa Island that adds another layer of holiday cheer.
The small community is famous for going all-out with over-the-top light displays between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, and now is the time to see the Balboa Island Christmas lights at their best.
Christmas light walk at Balboa Island
Many bayfront homes throughout Newport Beach and Balboa Island decorate their docks, railings, and roofs with thousands of multicolored lights and displays, which reflect in the water to create an even more magical nighttime experience.
Visitors often stroll along the bayfront sidewalk to see the displays on the island, along the coast, and on the peninsula. Interior streets also decorate heavily, so you can wander inland to see more neighborhood decorations.
Ring of Lights and Boat Parade
Each year, Newport Beach hosts one of the largest decorated boat parades in the country. See hundreds of brightly decorated boats sail through the Newport Harbor, starting at 6:30pm each evening from Dec. 17th through Dec. 21st, 2025. A fireworks show will take place on opening night, Dec. 17th, at 6:15pm, and drone shows will take place on the following nights.
Many homes on and around Balboa Island also participate in the Ring of Lights, an annual judged decorating competition for homes, yachts, and businesses around the harbor.
🌐 Learn more: 2025 Christmas Boat Parade
Visiting Balboa Island during the holidays
Lights usually go on at dusk and are best viewed between 5:30 and 9:30 pm or so, with most crowds visiting on Friday and Saturday nights.
Parking on Balboa Island itself is limited, so many visitors park on the Newport Beach side and cross the bridge or take the Balboa Island Ferry.
🌐 Learn more: Balboa Island