It is said that everyone loves a parade. And if you agree, I have great news for you.

There's a parade coming up the night of Dec. 13 that will be a dazzler. And if you are a boat owner, I highly recommend taking part in the fun.

The parade, as you may have guessed, is the annual Christmas Boat Parade, which the Hawaii Yacht Club has organized for the past 14 years. This year, however, there have been some changes made in its format that promise to make it the best one yet.

For starters, the HYC is co-sponsoring the parade with its Ala Wai Harbor neighbor, the Waikiki Yacht Club, a move that is likely to ensure there will be a solid foundation of participants.

Then, the parade's organizers have made arrangements with the Aloha Tower Marketplace that will not only encourage boater participation, but in return will guarantee a spectacular floating light show for the patrons of the Marketplace as well.

The parade's route has historically taken it out of the Ala Wai Harbor and west along the coast to Honolulu Harbor, where it makes a couple of passes by the Marketplace before returning to the Ala Wai.

That's not going to change, but this year the Marketplace is offering $200 to as many as 35 power boats or sailboats that enter and complete the parade route, which will surely help defray this year's record fuel costs for their owners. The Marketplace will also award a $200 prize to the “;Over-all Winner.”;

The parade's theme is “;Toys on Parade,”; and in hopes of prompting boaters to decorate lavishly, I'm sure, two of the Marketplace's waterfront restaurants are offering generous cash prizes as well.

For boats 20 feet and longer, the Gordon Biersch Brewery will present awards of $400 for first place, $350 for second, and $250 for third. For boats under 20 feet, Hooters Restaurant will present $200 for first, $150 for second, and $50 for third.

It won't be surprising, with all of these monetary incentives, to see the entry list fill up fast. So I would advise boat owners to take prompt action if they are interested in being involved in this holiday spectacular.

Registration forms are available by calling Barbara Silvey at 926-0250. The early-bird entry fee is only $25 if paid by Dec. 9, but after that it will be $50. And all entry fees will be donated to Harbor House, Inc., a social service/welfare organization.

Boat owners or their representatives who are taking part in the parade will be required to attend a mandatory skippers' meeting at the HYC at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 10.

The parade's flashy flotilla will begin congregating in the turning basin opposite the HYC's docks on the evening of Dec. 13 at 5:30, so for even those not taking part, the viewing will be grand from nearly every vantage point on shore.

Still, I doubt there will be a finer site than the dock-level view of the harbor from one of the Aloha Tower Marketplace's first-rate eateries.