Marina del Rey Boat Holiday Parade Ultimate LA Singles Review

MDR’s Show On H2O A Free December Los Angele Event

By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Nightlife Blogger

Whenever there’s a big public event, I like to check it out because, well, they are free and can be a great way to meet other single people. Plus, I can usually take and consume a “concealed cocktail,” giving me something to drink while I’m at the event to get me in the proper “mingliln’ singles” mood.

And so it was with much anticipation that I went to the Marina del Rey holiday boat parade, a Los Angeles waterfront tradition that’s held the second Saturday of December (in 2017 this puts in on Dec. 9). I had a very enjoyable time – and met some fun single girls – at MDR’s 50th anniversary celebration in the same location, and here’s my review of this event from a single man’s perspective.

The first thing to know is your best bet for mingling is at the busy Burton W. Chase Park, the headquarters of the entire H2O show. The next thing you need to know is that you’ll spend half your time dodging strollers and kids trying to run between your legs.

Obviously, some filtering through this mess is a requirement.

You also want to avoid being near the fisherman’s statute because that’s where hosts announce the boats as they pass, and this is really annoying. It’s like listening to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which for a guy is akin to running fingernails down a chalkboard.

So wander up on the small hills and grassy areas looking for a group of singles and make your way along the shore where people are lined up three, four and even five deep to see the boats.

I wound up walking to the end (not far, about five minutes from the fisherman’s statue, and that included dodging strollers) to where I could actually see the boats. In this park, that’s tougher than you would think because the views are blocked by boats tied to the dock.

Once I was able to get to a spot away from the docks, I loved the boats. There was Santa fighting Darth Vader while the theme to “Star Wars” played, a tequila bottle “pouring” a margarita into a cocktail glass and people partying on yachts and the big Hornblower tour boats.

What I did not see were a lot of single girls. Hardly any, in fact. There were mostly couples and kids.

So my friend and I went by Fisherman’s Village (again views blocked by docks and a lot of families) and, since we were on bikes, along the channel that borders neighboring Playa del Rey.

Here, there are unobstructed views and the boats are so close you feel as if you could almost just step from the rocks right onto one of them. However, about an hour and a half into the parade, this area was nearly deserted. On our way into the parade, there were a couple hundred people lined up here, but apparently they only stay for the fireworks and perhaps one pass of the boats.

As far as watching from a bar, well, there are not really any in MDR, so that unfortunately is not an option.

Marina Del Rey Holiday Boat Parade Singles Tips

So here’s my conclusions:

• The boats are great and it looks like the people on them are having the most fun.
• If you really want to party, get on a boat or rent one and join the parade. Then try and finagle your way into the California Yacht Club for the post-parade party. One way to do this is to join any yacht club, all of which have reciprocal agreements with every yacht club in California.
• Make this a group outing by inviting friends and singles whom you’re interested in but haven’t yet made the move on because the situation hasn’t been quite right. The parade is an excellent place to get things going with someone or to take what you do have going to the next level.
• Do a walk-through beforehand of Burton Chase Park and for the best viewing – particularly of the fireworks, which start precisely at 5:55 with the parade starting at 6 p.m. – hang out at the jetty at the channel on the PDR border. Who knows, you may wind up hooking up with someone who lives in apartments just down the street or get invited to a post-party.
• Perhaps hang out by the food trucks.
• Take your own concealed cocktail and share if you meet someone. (But be discreet, don’t get or act drunk, know that kids are around, etc.).

RELATED L.A. BOAT PARADES BLOG POST:

• Los Angeles Boat Parades Locations, Dates, Bars & Viewing Locations