During the holiday season, up to 60 boats, 14 to 65 feet long, make up two fleets each brightly decorated in lights and displays. The privately owned vessels come from Portland, Vancouver and beyond to put on a show each year. Some of the boat owners have been part of Christmas tradition for more than 40 years. The Christmas Ships Parade is viewable on select nights in and around Portland. The parade can be seen from Portland, Milwaukie, Lake Oswego, Scappoose, Vancouver, Camas, Washougal and St. Helens. The Christmas Ships Parade is free to attend from multiple outdoor viewing spots.

John’s Landing to Fremont Bridge

December 18 and December 20 at 7 p.m.

The fleet assembles in front of Riverplace Marina, 1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland. The fleet will make their way upriver, past the Old Spaghetti Factory, to the John’s Landing area. The boats then turn and travel downriver to area of the Fremont Bridge  Then they’ll will go under the bridge past the waterfront condos and turn around to Riverplace Marina. The fleet will be out for about two hours.

Outdoor viewing

Tom McCall Waterfront Park
98 SW Naito Pkwy., Portland

South Waterfront Greenway
838 S Curry St., Portland

Milwaukie

December 13, December 17 and December 19 at 7 p.m.

The fleet assembles in front of RiverPlace Marina, 1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland, and travels upriver to the area of the Milwaukie Boat Ramp. At the boat ramp, the fleet turns and arrives at Milwaukie Bay Riverfront Park around 8 p.m. and then work its way back to RiverPlace Marina. The boats are out for approximately two hours.

Outdoor viewing areas

Milwaukie Riverfront Park
11211 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Milwaukie

South Waterfront Park
2001 S River Dr., Portland

South Waterfront Greenway
838 S Curry St., Portland

Riverplace Espanade
0300 Block SW Montgomery, Portland

Willamette Park
6500 S Macadam Ave., Portland

Sellwood Riverfront Park
1221 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland

Powers Marine Park
SW Macadam Avenue south of the Sellwood Bridge, Portland

I-205 Bridge/Steamboat Landing

December 18 at 7 p.m.

The fleet assembles in front of M. James Gleason Boat Ramp, 43rd/NE Marine Drive and continues upriver to the I-205 bridge area and Steamboat Landing. The boats continue upriver to the area of SE 164th in Vancouver. The fleet stays on the Washington side and is out for about two hours.

Outdoor viewing areas

M. James Gleason Boat Ramp, Large Parking Lot (Multnomah County Sheriff River Patrol’s Office)
NE 42nd/Marine Drive, Portland
Parking is $5.

NE Marine Drive from NE 43rd to I-205 Bridge

St. Helens/Columbia City/Woodland

December 14 at 6 p.m.

Route

The fleet assembles at the St. Helens City Docks and heads downriver to Columbia City, and weather/river conditions permitting crosses to the Washington side near Woodland, then returns to St. Helens City Docks. The fleet is out about two hours. Ships remain overnight at St. Helens City Docks and leave Sunday for the trip up Multnomah Channel.

Outdoor viewing areas

Columbia View Park
3 Strand St., St. Helens
South of courthouse parking lot.

Columbia Courthouse
230 Strand St.
Above the St. Helens City Docks

Caples House Museum
1925 First St., Columbia City
6-8 p.m. Cookies and hot chocolate with donation

Pixie Park
1816 The Strand, Columbia City

Scappoose/Multnomah Channel

December 15 at 4:30 p.m.

Route

The fleet meets in the afternoon at Coon Island and leave for Scappoose arriving approximately 5 p.m. then continues up the Multnomah Channel to the Willamette River. This is a long night and arrival at the Willamette River is usually between 8-9 p.m.

The parade will be visible in the Linnton area at the end. The Willamette fleet will be seen returning to RiverPlace Marina.

Outdoor viewing areas

McCuddy’s Landing
34326 Johnson’s Landing Rd, Scappoose

Hadley’s Landing
NW Sauvie Island Rd., Sauvie Island

Highway 30 viewpoints

Sauvie Island viewpoints
Ferry Street Boat Launch Area

Lake Oswego

December 21 at 4:30 p.m.

Meet and Greet

After the parade, the crews are hosting a meet and greet at RiverPlace Marina, 1510 SW Harbor Way, from 8 to 10 p.m.

Route

The fleet will leave RiverPlace Marina headed to Lake Oswego, arriving about 6 p.m., subject to weather and river conditions. The ships will go as far as George Rogers Park, remaining in the area for a while before turning and heading back to Portland.

The parade is seen from the Milwaukie Bay Riverfront Park on the way to Lake Oswego and again on the return to RiverPlace Marina. If time permits, the fleet spends time in Milwaukie Bay on our way back to Portland. The fleet is parading for 3.5 hours.

Outdoor viewing areas

Foothills Park
199 Foothills Dr., Lake Oswego

South Waterfront Park
2001 S River Dr., Portland

South Waterfront Greenway
838 S Curry St., Portland

Milwaukie Bay Park
11001 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Milwaukie

Riverplace Espanade
0300 Block SW Montgomery, Portland

Willamette Park
6500 S Macadam Ave., Portland

Sellwood Riverfront Park
1221 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland

Powers Marine Park
SW Macadam Avenue south of the Sellwood Bridge, Portland

St. Johns Bridge

December 22 at 5 p.m.

Meet and Greet

Before the parade, the crews are hosting a meet and greet at RiverPlace Marina from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

Route

The fleet assembles in front of RiverPlace Marina, 1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland. The boats make their way upriver, past the Old Spaghetti Factory, to the John’s Landing area. The fleet turns and travels downriver to the St. Johns Bridge/Cathedral Park area, arriving approximately 6:45 p.m. The ships remain in the St. John’s area for about 30 minutes (weather and river conditions permitting).

Outdoor viewing areas

Cathedral Park
N Edison Street and Pittsburg Ave., Portland

Tom McCall Waterfront Park
98 SW Naito Pkwy., Portland

Eastbank Esplanade
near Kerr Public Dock, Audrey McCall Beach and OMSI

South Waterfront Greenway
838 S Curry St., Portland

North Portland Harbor

December 19 at 7 p.m.

Route

The fleet assembles in front of Salty’s Restaurant, 38th/NE Marine Drive and heads to North Portland Harbor. North Portland Harbor is located on the Oregon side of Hayden Island.

Outdoor viewing

M. James Gleason Boat Ramp, Large Parking Lot (Multnomah County Sheriff River Patrol’s Office)
NE 42nd/Marine Drive, Portland
Parking is $5.

M. James Gleason Boat Ramp/I-5 Bridge/Vancouver Waterfront

December 20 at 7 p.m. includes Wintler Park

December 13 and December 17 at 7 p.m. includes Hayden Bay

Route

The fleet assembles in front of M. James Gleason Boat Ramp, 43rd/NE Marine Drive. The fleet circles the boat ramp then heads across to the Washington side to The Cove and then downriver to parade around Beaches Restaurant and McMenamains on the Columbia in Vancouver. The fleet continues toward the I-5 bridge to the Vancouver Waterfront and then on to the Holiday Inn in Portland. The parade can be seen from both sides of the river. Some of these nights include Wintler Park and Hayden Bay.

Outdoor viewing

M. James Gleason Boat Ramp, Large Parking Lot (Multnomah County Sheriff River Patrol’s Office)
NE 42nd/Marine Drive, Portland
Parking is $5.

Viewing spots available along NE Marine Drive from NE 29th to 42nd St.

Marine Park
SE Marine Park & Columbia Way, Vancouver

Vancouver Landing at Terminal One
100 Columbia St., Vancouver