WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.570 align:middle line:90% 00:00:05.570 --> 00:00:07.820 align:middle line:84% - Every year we have a theme for the Cruise of Lights. 00:00:07.820 --> 00:00:10.810 align:middle line:84% This year, our theme is "Rock 'n Roll Fantasy." 00:00:10.810 --> 00:00:12.800 align:middle line:84% We all hope you enjoy the holiday season! 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:18.950 align:middle line:90% 00:00:18.950 --> 00:00:20.660 align:middle line:84% KIM WEDDEN: The Cruise of Lights is 00:00:20.660 --> 00:00:24.770 align:middle line:84% a spectacular display of lights in Huntington Harbour. 00:00:24.770 --> 00:00:25.970 align:middle line:90% My name is Kim Wedden. 00:00:25.970 --> 00:00:28.730 align:middle line:84% I'm the president of the Committees of the Philharmonic 00:00:28.730 --> 00:00:32.720 align:middle line:84% Society, and I am also a member of the Huntington Harbour 00:00:32.720 --> 00:00:35.570 align:middle line:90% Philharmonic Islander group. 00:00:35.570 --> 00:00:38.780 align:middle line:84% Every holiday season, the Huntington Harbor Philharmonic 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:41.630 align:middle line:90% puts on the Cruise of Lights. 00:00:41.630 --> 00:00:46.700 align:middle line:84% We are in our 57th year for bringing in large boats 00:00:46.700 --> 00:00:50.990 align:middle line:84% and taking people out on a 45-minute narrated cruise. 00:00:50.990 --> 00:00:55.900 align:middle line:84% So it's a very well-oiled machine by now. 00:00:55.900 --> 00:00:58.720 align:middle line:84% We expect up to 10,000 people every year. 00:00:58.720 --> 00:01:01.780 align:middle line:84% They're usually large whale-watching boats. 00:01:01.780 --> 00:01:08.060 align:middle line:84% We can take anywhere from 100 to 149 people out at once. 00:01:08.060 --> 00:01:11.180 align:middle line:84% We're blessed to have so many residents that decorate for us. 00:01:11.180 --> 00:01:16.500 align:middle line:90% 00:01:16.500 --> 00:01:18.240 align:middle line:84% VALERIE JONES: The family as a whole has been 00:01:18.240 --> 00:01:21.220 align:middle line:90% participating in over 40 years. 00:01:21.220 --> 00:01:24.510 align:middle line:84% RENATE JONES: And the whole family decorates it, too. 00:01:24.510 --> 00:01:28.380 align:middle line:90% Definitely a family affair. 00:01:28.380 --> 00:01:30.750 align:middle line:84% KIM WEDDEN: Every year we have a decorating theme. 00:01:30.750 --> 00:01:33.720 align:middle line:84% This year is "Rock 'n Roll Fantasy." 00:01:33.720 --> 00:01:36.120 align:middle line:84% VALERIE JONES: We come together starting in September 00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:39.990 align:middle line:84% at dinners, and discuss what kind of decorations 00:01:39.990 --> 00:01:43.230 align:middle line:84% we want to provide for our display. 00:01:43.230 --> 00:01:45.750 align:middle line:84% And we ended up doing a giant jukebox, 00:01:45.750 --> 00:01:48.930 align:middle line:84% because we decided that with the programmable LEDs 00:01:48.930 --> 00:01:51.000 align:middle line:84% where you can program every pixel, 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:52.770 align:middle line:84% that we would be able to provide a better 00:01:52.770 --> 00:01:55.740 align:middle line:84% display for our neighbors and for the guests who 00:01:55.740 --> 00:01:56.930 align:middle line:90% come aboard the boats. 00:01:56.930 --> 00:02:00.060 align:middle line:90% 00:02:00.060 --> 00:02:03.600 align:middle line:84% KIM WEDDEN: There are awards given for on-water decorating 00:02:03.600 --> 00:02:05.280 align:middle line:90% and off-water decorating. 00:02:05.280 --> 00:02:06.630 align:middle line:90% There are sweepstakes. 00:02:06.630 --> 00:02:11.310 align:middle line:84% There's Best of Theme, Most Beautiful, Most Religious. 00:02:11.310 --> 00:02:13.410 align:middle line:90% I mean, the list goes on. 00:02:13.410 --> 00:02:14.910 align:middle line:84% VALERIE JONES: And we were lucky enough 00:02:14.910 --> 00:02:16.980 align:middle line:90% to win Best Tribute to Theme. 00:02:16.980 --> 00:02:22.047 align:middle line:90% 00:02:22.047 --> 00:02:23.380 align:middle line:84% - The Cruise of Lights was a lot of fun. 00:02:23.380 --> 00:02:24.720 align:middle line:84% Definitely going to come back next year. 00:02:24.720 --> 00:02:27.700 align:middle line:84% - We definitely want to come back next year. 00:02:27.700 --> 00:02:29.770 align:middle line:84% KIM WEDDEN: This has become a holiday tradition 00:02:29.770 --> 00:02:32.440 align:middle line:84% for families to come from all over to go 00:02:32.440 --> 00:02:33.820 align:middle line:90% out on the Cruise of Lights. 00:02:33.820 --> 00:02:37.150 align:middle line:84% We have people from our own backyard 00:02:37.150 --> 00:02:38.980 align:middle line:84% that are coming on the Cruise of Lights. 00:02:38.980 --> 00:02:41.380 align:middle line:84% And they might even come from the East Coast. 00:02:41.380 --> 00:02:45.040 align:middle line:84% We've had people from Colorado and Kansas. 00:02:45.040 --> 00:02:48.280 align:middle line:90% We even had a family from Japan. 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:51.670 align:middle line:84% And what's really wonderful is we've got people who have 00:02:51.670 --> 00:02:53.560 align:middle line:90% been coming back every year. 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:56.390 align:middle line:90% 00:02:56.390 --> 00:03:00.440 align:middle line:84% The Cruise of Lights is the fundraiser for the Philharmonic 00:03:00.440 --> 00:03:02.150 align:middle line:90% Society of Orange County. 00:03:02.150 --> 00:03:05.090 align:middle line:84% RENATE JONES: This is our way of contributing 00:03:05.090 --> 00:03:09.380 align:middle line:84% to the musical program for the kids of Orange County. 00:03:09.380 --> 00:03:10.770 align:middle line:90% KIM WEDDEN: Music is everywhere. 00:03:10.770 --> 00:03:17.110 align:middle line:84% It's for everybody, and it has a powerful impact on children. 00:03:17.110 --> 00:03:19.860 align:middle line:84% I have co-chaired Cruise of Lights nine times, 00:03:19.860 --> 00:03:21.600 align:middle line:84% and every year I think I couldn't 00:03:21.600 --> 00:03:22.740 align:middle line:90% love it more than I do. 00:03:22.740 --> 00:03:27.090 align:middle line:84% But it is such a tradition, the fact that all these 00:03:27.090 --> 00:03:29.100 align:middle line:84% people will decorate their homes, 00:03:29.100 --> 00:03:32.490 align:middle line:90% and the harbour just lights up. 00:03:32.490 --> 00:03:34.870 align:middle line:84% RENATE JONES: We have a good time doing it. 00:03:34.870 --> 00:03:36.870 align:middle line:84% VALERIE JONES: I think the most rewarding part of decorating 00:03:36.870 --> 00:03:39.420 align:middle line:84% for the Cruise of Lights is the family time that we 00:03:39.420 --> 00:03:41.220 align:middle line:90% end up spending together. 00:03:41.220 --> 00:03:45.090 align:middle line:84% RENATE JONES: And it actually brings us closer as a family. 00:03:45.090 --> 00:03:47.220 align:middle line:84% KIM WEDDEN: The boat parade is really our thank-you 00:03:47.220 --> 00:03:49.590 align:middle line:84% to all the residents who decorate 00:03:49.590 --> 00:03:53.460 align:middle line:84% their homes, their docks, their boats for Cruise of Lights. 00:03:53.460 --> 00:03:56.060 align:middle line:90% 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:57.660 align:middle line:84% VALERIE JONES AND RENATE JONES: Merry Christmas. 00:03:57.660 --> 00:03:59.870 align:middle line:90% - Happy Holidays. 00:03:59.870 --> 00:04:03.000 align:middle line:90%