The Harbor Lights Festival Christmas tree is ready to go. Lights will go on at 6:45 p.m. as part of the annual Harbor LIghts Festival in Corpus Christi, which begins at 6 p.m. The illuminated boat parade follows on Saturday, Dec. 6. Staff Photo
Downtown Corpus Christi will "Jingle Bell Rock" the holidays at the 33rd annual Harbor Lights Festival set for Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Bayfront Marina.
The festival kicks off with the AEP Texas Children's parade at 1 p.m. The parade proceeds east on North Shoreline then takes a left on Schatzel Street.
The Optimist Club is hosting a children's activity area with inflatable games, cookie decorating, live entertainment, food and gift vendors and more throughout the afternoon and the evening. All that and the tree, Gingerbread Village and an entertainment stage are set between South and North Shoreline and Peoples and Schatzel streets.
The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a pre-tree lighting ceremony. Santa's motorcade is expected at 6:30 p.m., traveling from the Peoples Street T-head, west along North Shoreline and up Schatzel Street.
The tree blazes with color and holiday spirit at 6:45 p.m. as it is lit for the holidays. A 7 p.m. concert follows before the much-anticipated illuminated boat parade at 7:30 p.m. The boat parade circles between the Peoples and Lawrence street T-heads.
The children's activities at 2 p.m include:
- HEBuddy Gingerbread Cookie Tent
- Optimist Club children's activity area
- Holiday Tree and Gingerbread Village
- Children's Gift of Love
Live entertainment on the main stage begins at 3:30 p.m.The event is free and open to the public. Merry Christmas, Corpus Christi!
