Trees in the Bay

An exerpt taken from the Marina Reader, November 2017. Happy Holidays!

"Unique to Long Beach, the Trees in the Bay will once again light the waterways with festivity. It used to be that people came to Long Beach to see the Queen Mary and they still do, but many visitors come to our beautiful City during the holidays to see the Trees in the Bay. Photos of the Christmas Trees have been featured in several newspapers, magazines, publications, and on holiday cards, both locally and nationally. The Marine Maintenance staff begins shortly after Labor Day inspecting, repairing, painting, and stringing the lights to ready the trees for placement throughout the bay and in Rainbow Harbor. When all these elements are completed they are towed to their locations, set in place with lines and weights, and then connected to their power source. The Trees in the Bay are in place and will light up each evening throughout the entire holiday season beginning Thanksgiving weekend. This is a glorious sight; over 70 multi-colored and white trees celebrate the essence of the season with their stunning reflections across the water. The tradition began in 1949 when resident Don May put a live Christmas tree on a float and set it in Alamitos Bay. In 1953 the first of the now familiar triangular wooden structures was used instead of a live tree. In the 1970s, when budget cuts threatened to cut the program out, residents came to the rescue and began paying the City to build, maintain, and cover the cost of electricity. Today this tradition is still in place due to support from several organizations and individuals. Those organizations include Spinnaker Cove Slip Owner’s Association, Alamitos Heights Improvement Association, Peninsula Beach Preservation Group, the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), the Downtown Long Beach Business Association (DLBA), and Trees in the Bay. Donations to support the Trees in the Bay Program are accepted by Partners of Parks To make a donation, call (562) 570-3209 for information. The holidays tend to be a busy time of year but do yourself a favor and take some time to visit our nationally recognized waterfront. In addition to the Trees in the Bay many local residents decorate their homes for everyone to enjoy.