Frank Rescino, the owner of the Lovely Martha — one of the last wooden-hulled fishing boats in the Golden Gate fleet — will be participating in the oldest and largest lighted-boat holiday parade in San Francisco Bay today. The event starts along the waterfront at 6 p.m.

Tell us about the boat parade. The parade consists of boats from the St. Francis Yacht Club, Fisherman’s Wharf Harbor and Pier 30. There are historic boats and commercial boats and fishing boats, as well as sailboats, that participate in the parade. We start at Pier 35, and the fireboat leads the parade and the commodore follows. Then as many as 100 boats will follow.

Tell us about the lights. They string them from the mast of the boats and they have white rope lights and color lights, and there are Santa Clauses and elves — you name it. It’s where maritime people along the waterfront can show some pride in the holiday season.

What makes it the best holiday parade in the Bay Area? You have multimillion-dollar yachts and historic boats. You have millionaires next to people who live on boats.

Where can we get the best seat to watch the parade? The place to see it is Pier 39 or the St. Francis Yacht Club. Depending on the weather, it can draw thousands of people.

esherbert@sfexaminer.com