December Newsletter

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade began at the turn of the century. John Scarpa, an obscure Italian gondolier, and Joseph Beek, developer of Beacon Bay, the Balboa Ferry Line and the principal force in the early development of Balboa Island, arrived in the Newport Harbor area over 100 years ago. These two men established what was then called the Tournament of Lights, an event that would continue for the next century.

Visit our Fun Zone museum! We have cases filled with local history. We are open Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm-5pm. Guided tours are available upon request. Consider becoming a volunteer! We hope that you join and renew your membership. You'll receive priority invites to all our exciting events!

Look for historic markers around the city. You will learn about your local history.

Walt Howard, NBHS board member, hosted citywide historical organizations to honor Bill Lobdell. We congratulate Bill for his role with the city as the historian laureate. He provided our members insight into Balboa Island's history for our sold-out dinner back in March at the Balboa Pavilion.

We are excited to participate in the city's 120th anniversary in 2026! Let us know if you'd like to donate artifacts to our archive and support our mission to educate the community. We are excited about our programs.

Explore our museum store that offers books, mugs, water bottles, postcards, and NBHS apparel. Shop now for great holiday gifts and receive 25% off all merchandise with code "History2025" and support our non-profit.

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