Christmas Ships on the Willamette River

The image to the left is of our sunrise on the river the morning of December 8th. The colors were spectacular! The air was so clear and clean.

The Christmas Ship Parade started in 1954 with one sailboat from Portland Yacht Club.  Bows of green with some ribbon were tied along the rails and it paraded on the rivers.  

I have borrowed some brilliant photos from the ChristmasShips.org website to share here.  Imagine. We just step out onto our balcony to see the ships floating by!

 

 

Today, the Christmas Ship Fleet celebrates 69 years of the parade averaging 55 to 60 boats between the Columbia and Willamette River fleets. 

 

 

The first parade of the year was December 1st and after 12 nights of parading, the 13th Christmas Ship Parade with include all of the ships on Sunday, December 17th. The Red Baron joins in on the fun!

 

 

Each boat owner designs and builds their lighted Christmas display and pays their operating costs. 

 

 

Many of the displays can be seen each year, but new boats join the flotilla each year and bring with them new lighted exhibits. As skippers retire, they also hand down their well-known displays so the tradition continues.  

 

 

Even though not all boats make it out every night of the two weeks the ships parade on the rivers of Portland, most do.  For many of the boat owners, this is a family Christmas tradition, offering the Portland area thrilling Christmas time parades. This family is happy to be inside for the parade!

 

 

Weather is the only element that will cancel the ships performance. This year our December nights have been cold but very clear. 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you are enjoying the season.