This year, I was asked to be the official photographer for the Eastport Yacht Club’s Lights Parade, an Annapolis tradition that may be the most anticipated event of the holiday season. As a kid, I have fond memories of bundling up in layers and watching the illuminated boats from the Spa Creek Bridge.

The boats were decked out in holiday lights, each with its own personality and creativity. From classic outlines tracing bay-built workboats to elaborate displays with animated lights, the level of detail was impressive. Owners and crews put an incredible amount of work into rigging lights and coordinating their displays.

The weather couldn’t have been better for a night on the harbor. Mild temperatures and light winds made being on the water in mid-December a little easier than usual. The calm conditions created incredible reflections, with holiday lights shimmering across the surface in abstract and unexpected ways.

The Lights Parade has long been part of the fabric of Annapolis, bringing the boating community and spectators together to get into the holiday spirit. My goal was to document more than just decorated boats. I wanted to capture the quiet anticipation before the start, the joy on faces around the harbor, and the pride crews feel after putting so much care into preparing their boats.

Thank you to the Eastport Yacht Club for the invitation and the trust. It was a pleasure to help preserve a tradition that means so much to this community and supports the EYC Foundation’s work connecting young people with the water and the maritime world.