Suzanne Mapes / for the Press Telegram

The Neptune Club's Dragon boat pulled by swimmers in the water makes its way through the canals during the Naples annual boat parade.
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Enter the dragon boat

Annual favorite makes Naples parade after insurance worries.

By David Rogers
Staff writer

LONG BEACH — A heavy mist couldn't sink the spirits of revelers out for Saturday's Naples Island Boat Parade, where thousands cheered colorfully decorated watercraft moving slowly through the canals of Alamitos Bay.

In the spirit of Rudolph, boats strung with Christmas lights made their way through passageways lined with homes and boat slips.

Santa Claus waved to children from a craft that appeared to be pulled by submerged reindeer. The flags of the United States, France, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom and other countries flew from different crafts. "It's local people doing local stuff," said Bob Luskin, who hosted a parade party at his home on one of the canals. "It's not a Hollywood production."

The annual parade had a "down home' feel, Luskin said. But that didn't mean the spectators weren't dazzled.

"There's a fire-breathing dragon! Everybody just stay calm," a voice shouted from a megaphone as a 30-foot-long dragon float basked spectators in an orange glow.

The float, which followed the final Santa Claus float, almost didn't make it this year, after city officials raised liability concerns.

But Neptune Club swimmers were able to pull it once again after their club received a $1 million insurance policy.

"I liked the dragon part, when it was blowing fire," said 6-year-old Siena Ruelas of Downey, whose parents brought her and her brother, Cruz, 1.

"It was great. I've never been to this part of Long Beach," said Sandra Ruelas, who said she and her husband, Hector, found out about the parade through a friend.

Naples resident Russ Young said the parade was quirky but still family friendly, and reflected the community's sensibilities.

"The parade has that local flavor, and it's not becoming too pretentious," he said.

Saturday night also saw the Parade of 1,000 Lights, a boat parade sponsored by the Shoreline Yacht Club, which sailed through Rainbow Harbor past the Queen Mary.

The Daisy Lane Parade, which traveled between Hill Street and Pacific Coast Highway, also attracted throngs of revelers to the city's Wrigley District.