"After 23 incredible years of dedication, Amanda Dove, who founded and nurtured this beloved community tradition, is passing the torch."
That line comes from the Discovery Bay Chamber of Commerce's announcement for the 24th Annual Discovery Bay Lighted Holiday Street Parade, set for Saturday, December 5. For the first time, the town's biggest night of the year is run by two organizations instead of the person who started it. That handoff shapes the rest of the month. The lineup now has a cap, the organizers need volunteers, the theme matches the one the Yacht Club picked for its boat parade, and several details people have relied on for years haven't been published yet.
Twenty-three years with one founder, now two organizations
The Chamber's announcement says the Discovery Bay Chamber of Commerce and the Discovery Bay Community Foundation have partnered to keep the parade going, "honoring its history while building an even brighter future." The organizers also say they will be "introducing new ideas" on top of what made the event a community favorite.
On the DBCF events calendar, the parade is "the largest event in town each year," with thousands lining the streets for floats, dancers and musicians before the traditional Christmas tree lighting. Under the new arrangement, that crowd will watch a lineup limited to 40 entries. Float registration is open through the Chamber's events page, and volunteers sign up on the same page. The organizers want about 30 volunteers, and they say sponsorship opportunities will be announced soon.
Last year's parade shows what the new team is inheriting. In its preview of the 23rd parade, held December 6, 2025, The Press reported prizes in 13 categories, including "best dance group" and "best in theme," plus a new online voting app so the whole crowd could weigh in. The paper also mentioned the BMX riders returning, Mattson Plumbing's giant toilet float, the Liberty High School marching band leading the way "as always," and Santa. Any group that wants a spot among those regulars has 40 places to compete for this year.
What's settled for December 5, and what's still to come
The theme is America's 250th Birthday. A community-submitted Patch listing calls it "250 Years of America," says the procession goes through downtown Discovery Bay, and confirms that the Liberty High School Band is part of it again.
Start times vary depending on where you look:
- DBCF's calendar shows an event window of 5 to 10 p.m.
- The Chamber's event listing gives 5 p.m.
- The Patch listing gives 6 p.m.
The 5 p.m. listings may mark when the evening opens rather than when the first float rolls. In 2025 the parade started at 6 p.m. and the tree lighting began around 7:45 p.m. If you're picking a spot along the curb, the Chamber's page is the place to check as the date gets closer.
The organizers haven't published a 2026 route yet. For reference, last year's parade started at Discovery Bay Marina, 5901 Marina Road, went down Marina Road to Willow Lake Road, then took Riverlake and Sand Point roads to the Discovery Bay Shopping Center. The tree lighting was in front of the Community Center across the street. With new organizers promising new ideas, that route is a starting point, not a promise.
The Community Center matters for another reason this year. The Town of Discovery Bay is scheduled to start Phase 1 of a solar and parking improvement project there on November 4. About 16 parking spaces will be available during both phases, and the Town's parking advisory expects disruptions through December 23, though it says that timeline could change. If the tree lighting stays where it was last year, the crowd will arrive while that lot is still mostly closed. The Town suggests allowing extra time and checking the advisory for other places to park.
One week later, the same theme goes out on the water
The Discovery Bay Yacht Club's 2026 Lighted Boat Parade is Saturday, December 12, with the theme "America's 250 Years of Freedom." Since the street parade also chose America's 250th, the town will see the same theme on land and on water on back-to-back Saturdays.
The boat parade has always been open to the public, and that hasn't changed. The club's page puts it simply: "If you have a boat, assemble your crew and join us." Boats gather on Kellogg Creek just off the point of Newport Lane, wind through every other bay, and finish in Marina Bay just beyond F dock near the marina. Every registered boat needs a VHF radio on board. The mandatory skippers' meeting is December 6 at 7 p.m., the evening after the street parade. Afterward, participants and their guests can go to the club at 5871 Marina Blvd. for awards, food and drinks, with wristbands handed out at the skippers' meeting.
The club's page lists two start times. The event header says 5:30 to 11 p.m., and the description says the parade begins at 5:15 p.m. You can confirm with the club at 925-634-1210.
If you don't live on the water, last year's timing is a useful guide. The Press reported that viewers could watch the boats from Discovery Bay Marina as they came in at the end of the route, around 8 p.m. In the same article, Fleet Captain Steve Riggio called the route "a really fun three-hour tour of Discovery Bay," and the paper noted that judging happened at houses along the route. In 2025 the club gave awards for the Commodore's Cup, Most Creative, Best Holiday Spirit and Funniest Boat.
The marina where the parade ends now has golden mussels
The boat parade finishes at a marina where a new invasive species has turned up. The Press reports that golden mussels, first detected at the Port of Stockton in October 2024, have spread through the Delta, including to the Discovery Bay Marina and Orwood Resort in Brentwood. They were found in Livermore's Lake Del Valle in September. State and regional agencies are working on a way to control them, and the paper says a solution has not been found so far.
For anyone decorating a boat this month, that has a practical side. The public is being asked to "clean, drain and dry" boats, wave runners, paddleboards, life jackets, clothing and paddles. According to The Press, a boat that launches in an infested lake such as Lake Del Valle faces a 30-day quarantine before it can launch at lakes with inspection protocols, enforced with a seal over the boat-to-trailer connection. If your boat moves between the Delta and a reservoir, check those rules with the agency that runs the launch you plan to use. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has a golden mussel page with a live map of where they've been found and a way to report a sighting.
December, in order
- November 4 through December 23: Community Center parking is limited to about 16 spaces during the solar project.
- Wednesday, December 2, 7 p.m.: Discovery Bay CSD Town Meeting, listed on the Chamber calendar.
- Saturday, December 5: 24th Annual Discovery Bay Lighted Holiday Street Parade, followed by the tree lighting.
- Sunday, December 6, 7 p.m.: Mandatory skippers' meeting for the Lighted Boat Parade.
- Saturday, December 12: Discovery Bay Yacht Club Lighted Boat Parade.
- Tuesday, December 22, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: The Chamber's Annual Kris Kringle Mingle Business Mixer.
There may be one more parade night. Last year a third parade, the Willow Lake Lighted Boat Parade, was scheduled for December 20. Organizers Stan Silva and Dick Kolda kept it to Willow Lake residents, and Silva called it "a tribute to the spirit of Christmas of people here in Discovery Bay," according to The Press. No 2026 date has been announced.
I'm grateful to Amanda Dove for 23 years of parades, and glad the Chamber and DBCF are carrying the Parade of Lights forward. If December has you thinking about what your own Discovery Bay home is worth, waterfront or not, Linda Traurig can give you a calm, clear answer whenever you're ready. Get Your Instant Home Valuation.
