Portland Christmas Ships Parade
The Christmas Ships Parade in Portland, Oregon has been floating light across the Willamette and Columbia rivers since 1954, when a single decorated sailboat set out from the waterfront. It has since grown into the longest continuously operating illuminated boat parade in the United States and an officially recognized Oregon Heritage Tradition, with roughly 80 privately owned motor boats and sailboats, from 14 to 65 feet long, strung with lights, wreaths and glowing holiday scenes.
Held every December over fifteen evenings, the parade alternates between the two rivers, sailing past downtown Portland, Johns Landing, Lake Oswego and the Vancouver waterfront. On the big combined-fleet nights the boats line up into a glittering procession nearly two miles long, and the whole thing is run by volunteers as a nonprofit, with no admission charge.
Christmas Ships Parade Highlights:
- Two Rivers, One Tradition: Willamette River evenings typically start at Riverplace Marina and head upriver past Johns Landing, while Columbia River evenings run from the M. James Gleason Boat Ramp toward the Vancouver waterfront.
- Combined Fleet Nights: On selected evenings the entire fleet sails together, including a Lake Oswego run and a closing procession up to the St. Johns Bridge and Cathedral Park.
- Hand-Decorated Boats: Every skipper designs, builds and pays for their own display, so no two boats look alike — expect everything from blinking candy canes to full-size illuminated reindeer.
- Dock Walks & Meet-and-Greets: Selected marinas and public docks, including Riverplace Marina, open up for evenings where you can chat with skippers and see the decorations close up before the boats set off.
Tips for Visitors & Trip Planning:
- Free Entry: No tickets are needed — you simply watch from the public shoreline, parks and docks along the route.
- Best Viewing Spots: The downtown waterfront near Riverplace Marina and the Johns Landing shoreline suit the Willamette nights, the Vancouver waterfront suits the Columbia nights, and Cathedral Park beneath the St. Johns Bridge is the spot for the finale. Check which river is scheduled before you head out.
- Getting There: Waterfront viewing areas fill up on combined-fleet nights, so arrive early, expect limited parking close to the water, and consider walking or taking public transit in from downtown.
- What to Wear: December evenings on the river are cold, damp and windy — bring waterproof layers, a warm hat, gloves and a thermos of something hot.
- Accommodation: Portland fills up with holiday visitors throughout December, especially on weekends, so booking well in advance is strongly recommended.
- Explore Portland: Pair the parade with a Willamette River dinner cruise, a sailboat city-lights cruise, or a day trip to Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge — browse top Portland tours and activities here.
The full nightly route and schedule for each river is published on the parade’s official website. See details below, under “Event Related Information” section.
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