More than three dozen brightly lit vessels paraded around the Santa Barbara Harbor as part of the 37th annual Parade of Lights. (Mike Eliason photo)
More than three dozen brightly lit vessels paraded around the Santa Barbara Harbor as part of the 37th annual Parade of Lights. (Mike Eliason photo)

Thousands of people gathered at the Santa Barbara Harbor and waterfront area Sunday evening for the 37th Annual Holiday Parade of Lights.

Community members watched in delight as boats floated by, decorated with lights to match this year’s Holiday Disco Extravaganza theme.

Earlier in the day, a free Winter Wonderland with holiday elves, snow and a visit from Santa was open for families at the harbor, and the human-powered category competition kicked off the parade festivities.

  • Human-powered entries set out across the Santa Barbara Harbor to open the 37th annual Parade of Lights. (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • More than three dozen brightly lit vessels paraded around the Santa Barbara Harbor as part of the 37th annual Parade of Lights. (Mike Eliason photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Mike Eliason photo)
  • (Mike Eliason photo)
  • (Mike Eliason photo)
  • (Mike Eliason photo)
  • (Mike Eliason photo)
  • (Mike Eliason photo)
  • (Mike Eliason photo)
  • (Mike Eliason photo)
  • (Mike Eliason photo)
  • (Mike Eliason photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Kim Clark / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Kim Clark / Noozhawk photo)
  • (Veronica Rodriguez photo)
  • (Lisa Crawford photo)
  • (Lisa Crawford photo)

In the human-powered category, dozens of standup paddlers and kayakers dressed in festive outfits looped the harbor and Stearns Wharf.

A tree lighting ceremony, accompanied by holiday music sung by the Dos Pueblos Jazz Choir, also took place on the wharf as the night started to get darker.

In the main event, a festive fleet of about 30 vessels made their way along Leadbetter Beach down to the Cabrillo Pavilion at East Beach, and then back along the coast to the wharf, where a short fireworks show followed the parade’s end.

Readers can email their own Parade of Lights photos to news@noozhawk.com to be included in our slideshow.