Christmas Ships Parade

Christmas Ships Parade The Christmas Ship Parade started in 1954 with one lone sailboat from Portland Yacht Club. The next year the parade started to grow.

Bows of green with some ribbon where tied along the rails and it paraded on the rivers. Today, The Christmas Ship Fleet averages about 55 to 60 boats between the Columbia and Willamette River fleets. Things have changed from the first lone ship. Now the displays are brightly lit and can be seen from bank to bank on each river. This Northwest tradition packs restaurants along the two rivers. Many

reservations are made a year in advance. Many hotel rooms are booked by mid-summer. Corporation Christmas parties are scheduled around the Christmas Ship Parade schedule. By the thousands every night regardless of the weather Portland-Vancouver residents line the banks of both rivers to watch the parade. To show their appreciation for the all volunteer effort and the performance they give, many homes and cars along the way flash their porch and headlights as the fleet passes. Each boat owner designs and builds their lighted Christmas display and pays their operating costs which includes fuel. Many of the displays can be seen each year, but new boats join the flotilla each year and bring with them new Christmas oriented lighted exhibits. As skippers retire, they also hand down their well known displays so the tradition continues. For many of the boat owners, this is a family Christmas tradition, offering the Portland / Vancouver Metro area thrilling Christmas time parades. Many of the operators also have small private parties for friends and families aboard their vessels during the parade. All costs are borne by the owners. Weather and river conditions are the only element that will cancel the ships performance. That determination is made by the leaders for the evening a few hours before the ships are scheduled to begin performing. Some restaurants and hotels along both rivers, and private citizens, donate to the organization to help offset operational costs. Christmas Ships, Inc is a non-profit corporation.

05/15/2026

The 2026 parade season is fast approaching - the first parade night is December 3rd!

Next month we are holding a casual social gathering where you can meet a few of the Christmas Ship skippers and learn more about this fun group. If you have questions about the two fleets (Willamette or Columbia), parade routes, how to decorate your boat, or safety concerns, this is a great way to get answers in a casual setting. There also likely to be a lot of general conversation about boats and boating - we’re just that way.

What: Social Gathering for New Skippers
When: Saturday, 6/13, 1-3pm
Where: Jansen Beach Grill at the Holiday Inn Columbia Riverfront 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland , OR 97127
Why: This is just a chance for you to get to know more about us and to ask questions.

We hope you can join us - and please let me know if you can make it so I can let the Holiday inn know about how many people will be there. RSVP to [email protected]

Do you have a boat and love spending time on the water? Do you want an excuse to be on the water after our summer boatin...
04/23/2026

Do you have a boat and love spending time on the water? Do you want an excuse to be on the water after our summer boating season is over? Maybe the Christmas Ships Parade is the excuse you need for winter boating! We are having a New Participant Social this Saturday!

Come join us for an informal gathering and get all your questions answered.

New Participant/ Interested Skipper Social
Saturday April 25th from 1-3pm
FlyBoy Brewery & Pub
15230 SW Sequioa Parkway�Tigard, OR 97224

This is an easy 2 minutes off I-5 and 217 with plenty of parking. Right next to West Marine. Come chat with some of the Christmas Ships skippers and see if the parade is for you. We can’t wait to meet you! Please RSVP to [email protected]

It is never too early to start planning to participate in the 2026 Christmas Ship parade! Be apart of a cherished NW tra...
03/08/2026

It is never too early to start planning to participate in the 2026 Christmas Ship parade! Be apart of a cherished NW tradition that began all the way back in 1954! You can find all the info at our website https://www.christmasships.org/join-us

Come on down to the and see how easy it is to join Christmas Ships! We would love to chat with you!
01/08/2026

Come on down to the and see how easy it is to join Christmas Ships! We would love to chat with you!

Our 2025 parade season has come to an end. Now it’s time for our dedicated group of organizers and skippers to spend tim...
12/25/2025

Our 2025 parade season has come to an end. Now it’s time for our dedicated group of organizers and skippers to spend time with their friends & family and get some well deserved rest. We would like to thank all of you for coming out and celebrating the holiday season with us! It is your love for the Christmas Ships that drives us each year to bring this cherished holiday tradition to you. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

We absolutely adore these men and women who help keep the fleet and the larger community safe! Thanks MCSO!
12/24/2025

We absolutely adore these men and women who help keep the fleet and the larger community safe! Thanks MCSO!

There is still a lot of debris along our parade route tonight. We will absolutely do our best, as long as it is safe, to...
12/22/2025

There is still a lot of debris along our parade route tonight. We will absolutely do our best, as long as it is safe, to proceed with the parade as scheduled. If conditions are deemed too unsafe for our Captains, Crew, and boats will have to adjust our plans. We look forward to seeing everyone soon.

12/20/2025

Tonight’s combined fleet will be parading from Riverplace Marina as scheduled 12/20. Route modifications may be made as conditions require.

12/20/2025

Despite all our best efforts, the debris in the rivers wins tonight. Parades on *both* rivers are now cancelled. (For Friday 12/19/25)

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