Christmas Ships Parade – I-205 Bridge/Steamboat Landing

Photo courtesy of Christmas Ships Parade

One of my favorite views of Portland is at night when the city lights reflect off of the glassy surface of the Willamette River. This sight becomes even more enchanting every holiday season during the annual Christmas Ships Parade.

The annual tradition of Christmas Ships gathering in fleets to parade up and down the Willamette and Columbia Rivers is celebrating its 70th year in 2024. Are you a first timer to this event or looking for this year’s schedule? Here’s what you can expect.

Now that we’ve found each other, stay up-to-date on everything that’s happening this holiday season by signing up for my free daily newsletter. 

2024 Portland Christmas Ships Parade

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.

Viewing the Parade

The Christmas Ships Parade is free to attend from multiple outdoor viewing spots.

If you want to make the night extra special, consider making a reservation at a restaurant along the Willamette or Columbia Rivers. I’ve included a list of restaurants and hotels for each event. Ask for a table by the window, or if they have outdoor covered and heated dining options.

Meet and Greet Nights

If you want an extra special experience, attend one of the Meet & Greet nights. Meet the Christmas Ships skippers and see some of the boats up close. If you’re interested in joining the parade, the skippers can answer your questions. These events happen on select nights before and after the fleet heads out on the water for the light show. These events are held at RiverPlace Marina, 1510 SW Harbor Way in Portland.

“Christmas Ship Parade” by Visitor7 is licensed under CC BY 3.0.

Schedule

The Christmas Ships schedule has 15 select viewing nights from December 5-22, 2024. The fleets run their route for two to three hours. 

View the full schedule and choose what night you’ll take in the sights and sounds of one of Portland’s best holiday light displays. The list is organized by each location and the multiple Christmas Ship nights at those locations. 

Keep in mind that on some nights, events may be cancelled due to weather conditions.

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

December 5 at 7 p.m.

December 9 and December 20 at 7 p.m. includes Wintler Park

December 10, 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

Restaurants and hotels

Beaches Restaurant and Bar
1919 SE Columbia River Dr., Vancouver

The Cove
5731 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver

Holiday Inn Portland – Columbia Riverfront
909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland

Salty’s on the Columbia
3839 NE Marine Dr., Portland

The Sextant Bar & Galley
4035 NE Marine Dr., Portland

McMenamins on the Columbia
1801 S.E. Columbia River Dr., Vancouver

Who Song and Larry’s
111 Southeast Columbia Way, Vancouver

Red Lion on the River
909 N Hayden Island Dr., Portland

Twigs Bistro – Vancouver
801 Waterfront Way, Suite 103
Vancouver

North Portland Harbor

December 6 and 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.

Restaurants and hotels

Salty’s on the Columbia
3839 NE Marine Dr., Portland

The Sextant Bar & Galley
4035 NE Marine Dr., Portland

Courtyard Marriott North Portland Harbour
1231 N Anchor Way, Portland

Camas/Washougal

December 7 at 6 p.m.

Route

The fleet assembles in front of Port of Camas/Washougal and parades in the area for about an hour. The fleet will return to the docks and then parade back to Portland along the Washington side arriving in the Portland/Vancouver area around 8:30 p.m. The boats will commence near the James M Gleason boat ramp.

Outdoor viewing

Port of Camas-Washougal
24 South A Street, Washougal

Restaurants and hotels

Best Western Plus Port of Camas-Washougal Convention Center
121 Port St., Washougal

Puffin Cafe
24 S. A St., Washougal

John’s Landing to Fremont Bridge

December 9, December 11, 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

Restaurants and hotels

The Old Spaghetti Factory
0715 S.W. Bancroft St., Portland

Milwaukie

December 10, 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

Restaurants and hotels

The Old Spaghetti Factory
0715 S.W. Bancroft St., Portland

I-205 Bridge/Steamboat Landing

December 11 and 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

Restaurants and hotels

Salty’s on the Columbia
3839 NE Marine Dr, Portland 

The Sextant Bar & Galley
4035 NE Marine Dr., Portland

The Cove
5731 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver

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

Restaurants and hotels

The Roof
31 Cowlitz St., St. Helens, OR

Big River Taproom
313 The Strand, St. Helens, OR

Roy Thai
295 Strand St., St. Helens, OR

Dockside Steak & Pasta
343 S 1st St., St. Helens, OR

Kozy Korner Restaurant
371 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR

Dari Delish
1680 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR

The Village Inn
535 S. Columbia River Hwy., St. Helens, OR

Sunshine Pizza
2124 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR

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

Restaurants and hotels

Freds Marina
12800 NW Marina Way, Portland

Rocky Pointe
23586 NW St. Helens Hwy., Portland

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

Restaurants and hotels

The Old Spaghetti Factory
0715 S.W. Bancroft St., 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

Restaurants and hotels

The Old Spaghetti Factory
0715 S.W. Bancroft St., Portland

For more information about the Christmas Ships and maps of the routes, visit the Christmas Ships Parade website. 

Want more Portland freebies, events and deals? Subscribe to my newsletter (only one email a day), and follow me on Facebook and Instagram!