Short answer: For a Boat Parade viewing party, plan 3 slices per adult, order 48 hours ahead for 50+ guests, and pick up well before parade traffic starts on the Coast Highway.
The Christmas Boat Parade is one of Newport Beach’s oldest traditions, running for more than a century. For a few nights every December, lit-up boats circle the harbor, and every bayfront patio, dock and balcony fills with friends who need feeding.
Here’s how we’d plan the food for a viewing party.
How much to order
Plan on 3 slices per adult and 2 per child. A 16-inch large has 8 slices, so:
| Guests | Large pizzas | Add |
|---|---|---|
| 10 adults | 4 | 2 lb garlic knots |
| 20 adults | 8 | Full pan of salad, 4 lb knots |
| 30 adults + 10 kids | 14 | Deep pan of salad, 2 dozen cookies |
Want exact numbers and prices? Our pizza party calculator does it in seconds, and the catering builder adds salads, knots and desserts.
Timing is everything
- Order early. Parade nights are busy for every kitchen in town. Order at least 24 hours ahead, and 48 hours for 50 or more people.
- Pick up before the crowds. Traffic around the harbor slows down well before the first boat. Schedule pickup for an hour before your guests arrive.
- Serve in waves. Put half the pizzas out when guests arrive and keep half in a 200°F oven, boxes cracked open so the crust doesn’t steam.
Keep it hot on the dock
- Leave pizzas in their boxes and stack them on a thick towel.
- Cover the stack with another towel or an insulated grocery bag.
- Bring the garlic knots out last. They’re best warm.
Make it a bayfront menu
A White pizza and a Margherita feel festive next to the classics, and a pan of homemade lasagna turns pizza night into dinner. Finish with brownies or carrot cake from our bakery case.