Will Eastport Lights Parade Continue Amid Coronavirus?

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Eastport Yacht Club canceled its annual lights parade. Coronavirus cases remain high across the county and the state, so the club decided to forego its tradition.

"Due to COVID restrictions and an abundance of caution, we are sad to report that the Lights Parade for 2020 has been cancelled," the club said on its website. "We look forward to continuing this wonderful tradition next year."

In other years, holiday-themed boats paraded around Annapolis waters, drawing spectators on land and by sea. This would have been the 38th running of the parade.

"It's a beloved Annapolis tradition: Every year on the second Saturday in December, magic happens on the water of the Annapolis Harbor," the yacht club added. "Boats suddenly appear out of the cold winter night illuminated with thousands of colored lights and crewed by jolly revelers."

The club still wanted to continue some cheer, so it hosted a poster design competition. Maryland native Rhonda Ford won the contest, painting a sailboat passing through the open Spa Creek Drawbridge. Ford is a member of the St. Michaels Art League, the Academy Art Museum in Easton and the Dorchester Center for the Arts.

The Eastport Yacht Club unveiled the painting on Nov. 20. That ceremony is embedded below. Jump to 7:43 to see Ford's work. A larger copy of the painting is viewable at this link.

To catch up on the coronavirus trends in Anne Arundel County, read Patch's latest update.

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