Bright Lights, Boat City – Morro Bay Rocks the Holidays!
This Maritime Village Celebrates Holidays with Lighted Crab Pot Trees, a Weekend of Lighted Boat Parades, Two Tall Ships in the Harbor, a Plethora of Holiday Events and Abundant Local Seasonal Crab at Fish Markets and Restaurants!
With a boat-filled harbor and miles of beautiful beaches, Morro Bay celebrates the spirit of this fishing village in maritime style during holiday season. Find festive holiday trees made out of crab pots throughout town, historic tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain in the harbor during November and December, Santa’s House on the Embarcadero, two lighted boat parades, a paddle parade and so much more.
“Morro Bay during the holidays is a fun place to visit,” says Jennifer Little, Morro Bay Tourism Manager. “Crab season is open and abundant, boat parades and tall ships in harbor, nearly 30 crab pot holiday trees light up town, and local wine tasting and Hearst Castle are minutes away. We’ve got so many ways to celebrate the holidays with family and friends.”
Hearst Castle and Wine Make us Merry!
Holiday cheer is in abundance in and around Morro Bay. Located on California’s Central Coast on scenic Highway 1 just minutes from the festive holiday tours at Hearst Castle, and wine tasting in Paso Robles and Edna Valley Wine regions, Morro Bay is the place to holiday. Paso Robles and Edna Valley are home to many wine touring companies that will come to Morro Bay and pick you up from your hotel. Need more reasons to visit? Check out these holiday lodging specials.
Holiday cheer is in abundance in and around Morro Bay. Located on California’s Central Coast on scenic Highway 1 just minutes from the festive holiday tours at Hearst Castle, and wine tasting in Paso Robles and Edna Valley Wine regions, Morro Bay is the place to holiday. Paso Robles and Edna Valley are home to many wine touring companies that will come to Morro Bay and pick you up from your hotel. Need more reasons to visit? Check out these holiday lodging specials.
Crab Pot Christmas Trees
To celebrate its heritage the Central Coast Fisheries for Women arrange for nearly 30 Crab Pot Christmas Trees to be placed throughout town as a way to honor the amazing fishing families of Morro Bay. As an alternative to traditional holiday trees, these lighted sparkling trees are made out of real repurposed crab pots.
Fresh Local Crab on the Menu
During the holiday season, locals and visitors rave about the fresh and local seasonal crab found in abundance at Morro Bay seafood markets and restaurants. A true treat for the holidays, don’t miss out!
During the holiday season, locals and visitors rave about the fresh and local seasonal crab found in abundance at Morro Bay seafood markets and restaurants. A true treat for the holidays, don’t miss out!
Rock these Holiday Events!
This time of year offers some of the best weather to be outdoors, on the water, on the beach or anywhere in Morro Bay! Check out these upcoming events:
This time of year offers some of the best weather to be outdoors, on the water, on the beach or anywhere in Morro Bay! Check out these upcoming events:
November 28 – Dec 18: Tall Ship Lady Washington in Harbor
Lady Washington the official tall ship of Washington State will visit Morro Bay, CA and offer walk-on tours and family-oriented Adventure Sails featuring demonstrations of tall ship handling, sea shanty singing, and maritime amusements. After your tour of the Tall Ship, walk across the street to the new Morro Bay Maritime Museum. The Museum is open every Saturday from 10am – 4pm.
Lady Washington the official tall ship of Washington State will visit Morro Bay, CA and offer walk-on tours and family-oriented Adventure Sails featuring demonstrations of tall ship handling, sea shanty singing, and maritime amusements. After your tour of the Tall Ship, walk across the street to the new Morro Bay Maritime Museum. The Museum is open every Saturday from 10am – 4pm.
November 30: Citywide Holiday Crab Pot Tree Lighting
Join us in Morro Bay for a simultaneous lighting of nearly 30 Crab Pot Holiday Trees around the City of Morro Bay. The citywide celebration begins at 5 pm. Locations are City Park, Downtown, T-Pier, Anchor Park & other various locations around town.
Join us in Morro Bay for a simultaneous lighting of nearly 30 Crab Pot Holiday Trees around the City of Morro Bay. The citywide celebration begins at 5 pm. Locations are City Park, Downtown, T-Pier, Anchor Park & other various locations around town.
November 30: Lighted Boat Parade Preview
Come enjoy our large vessels and commercial boats as they cruise up and down the Embarcadero waterway as you dine. They will be layered in lights and festive holiday spirit for your enjoyment while you eat in one of the many waterfront restaurants or stroll the Embarcadero. Some of the vessels in the parade preview include a U.S. Coast Guard Vessel, Tall Ship Lady Washington, the Papagallo, the Chablis and several boats from our fishing fleet. This event is brought to you by the waterfront restaurants.
Come enjoy our large vessels and commercial boats as they cruise up and down the Embarcadero waterway as you dine. They will be layered in lights and festive holiday spirit for your enjoyment while you eat in one of the many waterfront restaurants or stroll the Embarcadero. Some of the vessels in the parade preview include a U.S. Coast Guard Vessel, Tall Ship Lady Washington, the Papagallo, the Chablis and several boats from our fishing fleet. This event is brought to you by the waterfront restaurants.
November 30 – Dec 15: Santa’s House at the Embarcadero
Santa will be on the Embarcadero every night from 6 – 8 pm with presents and treats for the children. Pictures are free with an option to purchase a frame. Come visit Jolly ol’ Saint Nick in Morro Bay at the Chess Board on the Embarcadero. Santa’s House is sponsored by Morro Bay Rotary.
Santa will be on the Embarcadero every night from 6 – 8 pm with presents and treats for the children. Pictures are free with an option to purchase a frame. Come visit Jolly ol’ Saint Nick in Morro Bay at the Chess Board on the Embarcadero. Santa’s House is sponsored by Morro Bay Rotary.
December 1 – Dec 18: Tall Ship Hawaiian Chieftain in Harbor
The Hawaiian Chieftain was influenced by the early colonial passenger and coastal ships that traded among Atlantic coastal cities and towns in the 19th century. In 1993, Lady Washington joined Hawaiian Chieftain for their first mock sea battle on San Francisco Bay and will replicate that adventure in Morro Bay. Get your mock sea battle tickets now! December 1: 33rd Annual Lighted Boat Parade
The Annual Lighted Boat Parade continues in its 33rd year as our motorized fishing, leisure and yachting community take to the water after decorating their boats with amazing lights and holiday cheer. Take a seat anywhere along the waterfront for your front row view. This visual event will include music by the Home Town Band, cocoa and treats for sale, and a winter wonderland. Prizes for best decorated boat include $1000 cash and more.December 2: Paddle Parade
On Sunday afternoon the harbor will feature holiday decorated kayaks, SUPs, small sailboats, surfboards and anything that floats in this Non-Motorized Lighted Boat Parade. Along with fun family activities on shore, prizes will be given for the best decorated will be $1000 in cash and gifts.December 7: Santa’s Crawl
Enjoy this 21 & over scavenger hunt featuring Central Coast beers and wines during our 2nd Annual Santa’s Crawl. Businesses along the waterfront will showcase local winemakers brew masters, each offering a taste of their exceptional product. A completely filled out Yule-Tide Passport will enter you to win the Grand Prize Weekend Package where you wine and dine throughout Morro Bay!December 8: Gingerbread House Competition
Anyone can participate in this fun activity! Bakers love to build Gingerbread Houses for the holidays, and what better way to showcase your talents? Build a complete Gingerbread House and bring it to the Inn at Morro Bay and enter into this fun contest!December 9: Real Snow Event!!!
Play like no one is watching at Morro Bay’s real snow event! Three areas of snow for different ages of children to play on include a sledding hill, snow ball alley and under five area for the little elves. An Elf on the Shelf competition will take place and is fun for the whole family! Create elf dioramas and win fabulous prizes. We provide the elves!
The Hawaiian Chieftain was influenced by the early colonial passenger and coastal ships that traded among Atlantic coastal cities and towns in the 19th century. In 1993, Lady Washington joined Hawaiian Chieftain for their first mock sea battle on San Francisco Bay and will replicate that adventure in Morro Bay. Get your mock sea battle tickets now! December 1: 33rd Annual Lighted Boat Parade
The Annual Lighted Boat Parade continues in its 33rd year as our motorized fishing, leisure and yachting community take to the water after decorating their boats with amazing lights and holiday cheer. Take a seat anywhere along the waterfront for your front row view. This visual event will include music by the Home Town Band, cocoa and treats for sale, and a winter wonderland. Prizes for best decorated boat include $1000 cash and more.December 2: Paddle Parade
On Sunday afternoon the harbor will feature holiday decorated kayaks, SUPs, small sailboats, surfboards and anything that floats in this Non-Motorized Lighted Boat Parade. Along with fun family activities on shore, prizes will be given for the best decorated will be $1000 in cash and gifts.December 7: Santa’s Crawl
Enjoy this 21 & over scavenger hunt featuring Central Coast beers and wines during our 2nd Annual Santa’s Crawl. Businesses along the waterfront will showcase local winemakers brew masters, each offering a taste of their exceptional product. A completely filled out Yule-Tide Passport will enter you to win the Grand Prize Weekend Package where you wine and dine throughout Morro Bay!December 8: Gingerbread House Competition
Anyone can participate in this fun activity! Bakers love to build Gingerbread Houses for the holidays, and what better way to showcase your talents? Build a complete Gingerbread House and bring it to the Inn at Morro Bay and enter into this fun contest!December 9: Real Snow Event!!!
Play like no one is watching at Morro Bay’s real snow event! Three areas of snow for different ages of children to play on include a sledding hill, snow ball alley and under five area for the little elves. An Elf on the Shelf competition will take place and is fun for the whole family! Create elf dioramas and win fabulous prizes. We provide the elves!
Designated as the Best Budget Destination in California for 2018 by Budget Travel, Morro Bay is a world-class destination with rooms to fit any budget. Click here to find holiday lodgings specials for your next visit! For information on all the exciting things to do and see in Morro Bay, visit www.morrobay.org.
