High tides force cancellation of Naples holiday boat parade
Organizers in Long Beach scrapped the 1946 tradition this year, citing El Niño conditions and a $125 million repair backlog for the island's aging seawalls.
By Marina Weber ·
Long Beach residents will spend this holiday season listening to the silence of their canals rather than the music of a century-old tradition. The Naples Improvement Association confirmed on Saturday that the Naples Island Holiday Boat Parade is canceled for 2026. The decision follows forecasts of extreme tidal conditions that organizers believe make the waterway too dangerous for the crowds it usually attracts.
This marks the first time the event has been halted in six years, breaking a streak that began during the pandemic. What started in 1946 as a modest procession of church choirs on barges has evolved into a major local fixture. In recent years, the parade has featured more than 100 entries, including dragon boats and Duffys, while drawing 60,000 spectators to the waterfront.
Ben Fisher, president of the association, stated that the cancellation resulted from weeks of review and a survey of 600 residents. The poll indicated that a majority preferred to cancel the parade and other holiday events on the island this year. Fisher noted that the decision also reflected long-standing tensions with city officials over the state of local infrastructure.
Forecasters predict a powerful El Niño season that will push tides 6 to 18 inches above normal levels. These high waters will coincide with Kelvin waves, which are slow and wide swells of warm water expected to hit Long Beach’s southern coast throughout the winter. During the week of Christmas, tides are projected to reach between 7.5 and 8.5 feet. The highest surge is expected to occur in the mornings and peak around Christmas Eve.
The deteriorating condition of the Naples seawall played a major role in the decision. Fisher described the infrastructure as failing, pointing to exposed, rusted rebar and crumbling concrete that make the canals hazardous. The city evaluated the seawall in 2009 and found it in significant disrepair. A six-phase repair plan is currently underway, but only two phases are finished.
City officials estimate that replacing the aging seawall will cost $125 million. Funds have been halted due to shrinking oil revenue and uncertainty around federal disaster aid. Officials are considering a 30-year bond to finance the work, which would cost $5,100 annually per property if spread across the neighborhood or $48,000 per property if limited to homes along the seawall.
Council member Kristina Duggan, whose district includes Naples, said in a statement that she respected the association's decision. She emphasized that the focus for this winter must be on preparing the island for the weather. Duggan noted that maintenance work to seal cold joints and reduce water seepage will begin the following week.
Fisher said the budget usually allocated for the parade will now be used for pumps, hoses, plugs, and generators. He described these as resources that the waterways and neighbors desperately need. Residents have not yet decided whether they will decorate their homes this year, leaving that choice up to individual households.
