From Old Tony’s Fire Chief Cocktails To Waterfront Viewing Spots, Here’s Where To Enjoy The King Harbor Boat Parade
The Redondo Beach Holiday Boat Parade isn’t the biggest boat parade in Southern California, but it offers something just as appealing: a fun evening on the waterfront with plenty of places to enjoy a cocktail before, during and after the festivities. From Old Tony’s famous Fire Chief to prime viewing spots along King Harbor, here’s my firsthand guide to making the most of the event.
Updated November 2026
The annual Redondo Beach Holiday Boat Parade in King Harbor is not nearly as big as the one in Newport Beach or even Marina del Rey.
But it’s something people in the South Bay Beach Cities should check out because it’s a different type of entertainment (and also free!), it’s on the water and it has very strong party potential.
The 2026 event is Saturday, Dec. 12 – the night before the Manhattan Beach Holiday Fireworks – and PubClub.com provides this guide with information, the best viewing locations and bars to be at before, during and after the parade.
We’ll start with the latter: the best place to watch it is from the Crow’s Nest at Old Tony’s. That’s because you can see the boats in the channel and be drinking Fire Chiefs. Start there for sunset (about 4:45) and the parade starts at 5:30.
Another bar is Kincaid’s, where you can catch glimpses of the parade from the inside bar, but the best viewing is on the side patio.
A good bar to be at after the parade, which lasts until about 7:30, is BALEENKitchen. It faces the water but is actually on the other side of the channel so you can see boats, but not the parade.
The best viewing locations are right next to the Portofino along the concrete breakwall running from the hotel to its private facility building This is just down from Seaside Lagoon.
The boats go right by you here so close you feel as if you could reach out and hand them a boat drink. If that’s crowded, or you want another vantage point walk to the end of the Portofino lot past its bar to the picnic tables at the Rocky Point bait shop.
For a view with a little higher perspective, the end of the pier by Kincaid’s provides a great spot, plus the boats turn around there so you get to see them maneuver in the channel.
Moonstone Park and Mole D along the Splash Wall are popular boat parade viewing locations.
After the parade, if you’re in for some live music head to Starboard Attitude which has great blues bands on weekends (but hardly any crowd) or the new place on the pier The Boogie. It has bands, no cover and a cool crowd. It’s just across from Starboard Attitude in the former Dive at Brixton location.
For a friendly and casual drinking spot – often with acoustic live music – there’s The Slip Bar.
The bar at Shade Hotel is a really good social spot before, during and after the parade, tho you can’t really see the parade fromt thebar.
Finally, a little about the parade itself. It is put on by the King Harbor Yacht Club and involves members boats decorated with lights and sometimes even music. They “parade” up and down the channel that goes from the Yacht Club to the harbor’s entrance, which is right along the Portofino.
Most of the boats are sailboats and there’s only a couple of dozen of them, so after about 45 minutes or so you’ve pretty much seen the same boats pass by several times, and that’s the time to get to the bars.
If you’re not there already.
King Harbor Boat Parade Details
Saturday, Dec. 12, 5:30-7 p.m.
King Harbor Marina Channel, Portofino Way and the Redondo Beach Pier
Next Stops On The South Bay Holiday Party Bus
• Redondo Beach Holiday Boat Parade: All You Need To Know
• Dates For The Biggest Beach Cities Holiday Party Events
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