On September 17, a water-based crane from Connolly-Pacific was working along the King Harbor breakwater. Crews were pulling out armor stone, resetting it, and adding new stones barged over from Catalina Island. Patch reported that some of the new stones weigh as much as 20 tons. It is a $6.8 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project, and it is the first major repair since 1999. Federal inspections had found that damage to the structure was speeding up.
That wall is the backdrop for the longest holiday day on Redondo's calendar. On Saturday, December 12, the pier's holiday celebration, the paddle-craft parade and the King Harbor Holiday Boat Parade together span six hours, from 1 p.m. at the west end of the pier to 7 p.m. on the harbor. One of the two recommended public viewing spots for the parade is Moonstone Park, which sits beside the area the Corps has been using since June to stage the breakwater work.
Six hours, two organizers, one handoff
Two separate groups put on the day, with the Redondo Pier Association handling the afternoon at the wharf and the King Harbor Yacht Club organizing the parade. Their schedules overlap enough that you can treat them as one outing:
- 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The free Pier Holiday Celebration at Fisherman's Wharf on the west end of the pier, with holiday carolers, arts and crafts, a photo station and a holiday concert.
- 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Candy Cane Lane on the pier and boardwalk, while supplies last. Families with small children should plan to come early for this part.
- 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. The paddle-craft parade, which overlaps the last half hour of the pier program. The parade site also lists an Ugly Sweater Paddle Parade.
- 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The King Harbor Holiday Boat Parade, with decorated boats in a USA Salute theme marking 250 years.
The pier program ends at 4:00 and the paddlers are already on the water by 3:30. That overlap lets you move straight from the wharf to the harbor. The only break in the schedule is the half hour between the end of the paddle-craft parade at 5:00 and the start of the boat parade at 5:30. The parade schedule still lists the pier concert time as TBD, so check closer to the date if the concert decides when you arrive. The Pier Association says its events are weather permitting and that the schedule can change.
Boat owners who want to be in the parade can sign up through the registration page. The site also takes sign-ups for decorating someone else's boat, if you'd rather work on the lights than steer.
The viewing spot next to the staging yard
The parade organizers name two public viewing spots, Moonstone Park and Mole D along the Splash Wall. They also say the King Harbor Yacht Club is not open to the public for the event.
Moonstone Park sits on Mole B, and Mole B has been the staging area for the breakwater repair since work began on June 22. The City of Redondo Beach notice said parking next to Moonstone Park would be used for staging and support, so parking on the mole might be reduced. The Corps said it would try to keep the park open and let the Lanakila Outrigger Club keep operating throughout.
The harbor's event calendar has shaped this project from the start. The city and harbor groups gave the Corps their upcoming event schedules. No work was planned for July 3 through July 5, to clear the way for the Fourth of July fireworks, or for July 25, the day of the Santa Barbara Race. The city's notice expected the work to finish in November 2026. Patch's September 18 report put the Corps' target at mid-November.
As of this week, the crews still have their November target ahead of them, and the parade comes a few weeks after it. If you usually park on Mole B and walk straight into Moonstone Park, check the city's breakwall updates before the 12th. If you want a choice that doesn't depend on Mole B at all, the Splash Wall on Mole D is the other recommended spot. Boaters out on the water during the repair have been asked to keep a safe distance from construction equipment and vessels. The city also asked visitors to stay off the breakwall while work is active.
Filling the gap with something to eat
The newest food stop near the harbor runs on almost the same hours as the day itself. Easy Reader reported in October that South Bay Sushi Club is serving at 160 International Boardwalk, behind an unmarked door next to Scholb Brewing. Its weekend hours are, in theory, 1 to 8 p.m. The columnist reported that it sold out before 6 p.m. on the previous weekend. On a Saturday when the pier program starts at 1:00 and the parade ends at 7:00, those hours line up neatly. If the sell-out pattern holds, though, an early stop works better than a late one.
The same Easy Reader column reported that the Coyote Cantina was aiming for a soft opening in November after work on deferred maintenance. It also reported that Hacienda El Amigo, in the former Leo's, had restarted its remodel and might begin serving before the end of the year, depending on final agency paperwork. The Pier Association keeps a list of places to eat for anyone who wants a familiar table near Fisherman's Wharf.
Further down the boardwalk, the former Fun Factory at 123 International Boardwalk could change the harbor's evenings in years to come. The Daily Breeze reported in July that the City Council approved an exclusive negotiating agreement with Multiverse for a possible Level Up Bowl and Bistro. The proposal includes a bowling alley, an arcade, a bistro-style restaurant and a sports bar. The agreement does not commit the city to a lease.
Nine days earlier, the other end of town goes first
Redondo's December has two big nights at opposite ends of the city, and the one on land comes first. The Riviera Village Holiday Stroll runs Thursday, December 3, from 5 to 9 p.m. S. Catalina Avenue is closed to cars from Avenue I to S. Elena, and so is Avenue I from S. Catalina to S. Elena. The Riviera Village Association lists:
- Stores open late, serving refreshments while you shop
- A carousel and interactive attractions
- The Jolly Maker's Market on Avenue I
- Santa, the Grinch and large lighted holiday lettering for greeting-card photos
Parking in the Village is metered, payable by coin or card. It includes the triangle lot between Avenida Del Norte and S. Elena Street, plus spaces on the streets that stay open.
The dinner options around the Village are newer than they were last December. Martha's opened at 1810 S. Catalina Ave. in the last days of June and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its team includes managing partner Jeff Richards, co-owner Hilary Condren and chef Johnny De Vivo, according to Easy Reader's August review. On Pacific Coast Highway, Easy Reader's October column listed Gravewave Coffee at 1808 S. PCH, a goth-themed coffeehouse, and Thai House Kitchen at 1914 S. PCH, an offshoot of San Pedro's Baramee. In May, What Now reported that the City Council had extended the Village's outdoor-dining deck program for five years, so the sidewalk seating along the route is staying.
The Riviera Village Association suggests making a dinner reservation for the Stroll. The pier celebration and boat parade follow nine days later, on Saturday, December 12.
If watching the boats from Moonstone Park has become part of your December, the team at BVO Luxury would be glad to hear where you watch from and what the harbor means to your household. We follow King Harbor through the seasons, from repair schedules to new tables on the boardwalk, so reach out whenever you'd like to talk about life along the Redondo waterfront.
