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Paola Santiago

Paola Santiago

Paola Santiago is the Content Manager for Travel Portland and originates from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Read More

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Two boats adorned with Christmas lights Two boats adorned with Christmas lights
i
The Christmas Ships Parade has been a Portland tradition since 1954.
Credit: Sam Churchill, via Flickr
Portland Events / Winter in Portland / December Events

Christmas Ships Parade

Watch the river light up with dozens of ships decked out for the holidays.

Editor's Pick
Updated Dec. 5, 2022 3 min read
Paola Santiago

Paola Santiago

Paola Santiago is the Content Manager for Travel Portland and originates from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Read More

Editor's Pick
This is a recurring event and we’re showing the details from its most recent past occurrence. We’ll update this page with future event info as soon as we get it. Please check back!
When
Dec. 2–21, 2022
Days vary, Times vary
Free
Where
Willamette & Columbia Rivers

Every year, Portland and Vancouver residents line the Columbia and Willamette Rivers to watch a fleet of 55 to 60 festively-decorated sailboats and yachts parade down the waterfront. These privately owned boats range from 14 to 65 feet long and gather at different locations along the river featuring light displays and inflatable décor. 

Christmas Ships Parade FAQ

Where can I watch Christmas Ships in Portland, Oregon?

You can watch Christmas Ships at various locations along the Columbia and Willamette riverbanks. Check out our ideas below for where to watch or visit the Christmas Ships Fleet Schedule.

Do I need tickets to see the Christmas Ships in Portland?

You do not need tickets to see Christmas Ships and the parade is viewable to the public for free.

What is the Christmas Ships schedule for this year?

To find a full fleet schedule, check out the Christmas Ships website.

Where do the Portland Christmas Ships go?

The Christmas Ships parade through different loops along the Columbia and Willamette rivers each night all through December. You can find their specific location on any given night using the Christmas Ships Fleet schedule.

Portland Christmas Ships Parade History

What started as a lone ribbon-clad sailboat from the Portland Yacht Club in the 1950s became a decades-long nautical Christmas tradition. Each boat owner individually funds and designs their own display for the parade, and the event is run entirely on volunteer effort. Some boats and their skippers have been appearing at the parade for more than 30 years, with most of them completing a voyage in the last 20 years. 

Donations made to the event help to cover the cost of maintaining, managing and promoting the Christmas Ships nonprofit organization. If skippers (or boat operators) decide to retire, they pass their decorations on so the next generation can take up the helm.

Where to Watch the Christmas Ships

The privately owned vessels come from the Portland, Vancouver, McMinnville, Salem and Hood River areas and can be seen at various locations along the Columbia and Willamette riverbanks. 

Places to View the Christmas Ships Parade

  • Salty’s on the Columbia

    Featuring views of the Columbia River and Mount Hood, this riverside eatery specializes in seafood, including oysters and clams from Northwest beaches.

  • RiverPlace Hotel

    A Kimpton property, the RiverPlace Hotel is conveniently located just south of downtown. Accommodations range from standard rooms to deluxe suites and cottages.

  • McCormick & Schmick’s Harborside at the Marina

    Located in the scenic Riverplace Marina, McCormick & Schmick’s Harborside offers indoor and outdoor dining with a view of the Willamette River. The menu features an extensive Pacific Northwest seafood selection and daily specials.

  • The Old Spaghetti Factory

    Now a national chain, the Old Spaghetti Factory began at this location along the riverfront in Portland, serving up economical “complete meals,” including salad, bread, pasta and spumoni.

  • Cathedral Park

    Once a fishing and seasonal living site for Native American tribes (and a landing site of Lewis and Clark), this multi-level park offers beautiful views of the St. Johns Bridge, fishing, a boat ramp, an off-leash dog area and picnic tables.

All or most of the fleet will gather every night of the parade with a different planned route. Visitors can enjoy a meet and greet with the entire fleet of boats and their skippers up close on Dec. 17 and 18 at the public dock near Riverplace Marina.

Grab a couple of hot chocolate thermoses and bundle up to view the parade from South Waterfront Park or the Milwaukie Bay Park.

For roomier views perfect for a picnic blanket, Cottonwood Bay Park or Elk Rock Island are great locations further down the riverfront.

Visitors can also head to the pedestrian portions of Tilikum Crossing Bridge and the Steel Bridge for a view right over the water. For a full list of locations to see the parade, check out the Willamette River and Columbia River fleet schedules.

Special Events During the Christmas Ship Parade

Like all favorite Portland traditions, this event is free and open to the public. Be sure to snag a spot at your favorite South Waterfront Park restaurant or bar and enjoy the parade as you sip seasonal brews or a hot beverage. For a front-row seat view of the parade, sign up to cruise on the modern Portland Spirit vessel. Patrons can enjoy a Christmas Ship Dinner, freshly baked bread, dessert, and live piano entertainment. 

The Portland Spirit is a 150-foot modern yacht featuring three viewing decks, two of which are enclosed and set to the perfect cozy temperature with climate-controlled features. All dinners will be hosted inside the Portland Spirit vessel with the exception of the Dec. 20 dinner, hosted inside the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler , an authentic triple-deck paddle wheeler that offers 360-degree views of the river.

Crave the Christmas Ships spirit but don’t want to brave the cold? The Christmas Ships Trolley Excursion takes patrons on a special viewing of the parade from the warmth and comfort of a replica vintage trolley along a historic rail line dating back to the 1800s. Be sure to grab tickets well before December as spots sell out in record time each year.

If meeting old Saint Nick is on your kid’s holiday to-do list, head to the viewing on the St. Helens Riverfront, where the Columbia County Courthouse lights up for the occasion and Santa Clause, his elves, and some holiday alpacas are available for greetings and pictures. Visitors can enjoy holiday music classics with Tom Grant and Alyssa Schwary while watching the ships take off from the adjacent docks.

Events, Winter, Winter Holidays

More Portland Events

Visit our events calendar to discover even more things to do in Portland. Search by date, event type and more.

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Holidays in Portland

'Tis the season for festive occasions, cheerful company, and thoughtful gifts.

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Holiday Shopping Events

Do your holiday shopping for locally made gifts at hip parties, makers' fairs, sprawling sales and garden grounds filled with handcrafted items.

Building entrance decorated with festive lights at night time

Holiday Light Displays in Portland

Portland is full of bright ways to embrace the shorter days of winter; here are some of the stars in the city’s constellation of holiday light displays.

a large tree decorated with lights in front of a statue of a person holding an umbrella

Portland Holiday Events

Like an Advent calendar loaded with sugary treats, the days leading up to Christmas in Portland hold an abundance of sweet memories.

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