Nearly three dozen boats lit up the Santa Barbara waterfront Sunday for the annual Parade of Lights.

The 38th annual event also featured dozens of standup paddlers and kayakers dressed in festival attire paddling around the harbor and Stearns Wharf.

The event was part of a broader celebration that included several family activities, including a tree lighting on the wharf.

The boats made their way from Leadbetter Beach to the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion, then back along the coast to Stearns Wharf.

Sunday’s event also featured a “Winter Wonderland,” with holiday elves, 10 tons of snow, goodie bags, and a visit by Santa Claus. A fireworks show was also part of the display.

The event was put on by the 2024 Parade of Lights Committee and sponsored by the City of Santa Barbara Waterfront Department, Santa Barbara Harbor Merchants Association, Stearns Wharf Business Association, and the Santa Barbara Yacht Club. 

Click through the slideshow below to see more photos from the Parade of Lights.