Christmas Ships Parade
✓ Verified 2025-2026
Where: Columbia and Willamette Rivers, various viewing points, Portland, Oregon
When: November 28 - December 21 (fleets have scheduled nights off)
Hours: Roughly 4 pm - 7 pm, varies by night and location
Cost: free
55-60 decorated boatsvisible from both riverbanksindividually designed nautical holiday themesoptional dinner cruisesrunning since 1954attraction
A Pacific Northwest tradition that began in 1954 with a single vessel, the parade now sends roughly 55 to 60 custom-decorated boats along the Willamette and Columbia rivers on rotating nightly schedules. Designs range from Santa fishing to a Loch Ness Monster in a Santa hat, all viewable for free from the riverbanks.
Best time to arrive. Sunset in Portland is around 4:28 PM in mid-December, fully dark by about 5:02 PM. A typical December night here bottoms out near 36°F, so dress for standing around outside.
Other displays nearby
There are 6 other displays within 5 miles of this one, and 14 within 15 miles. Most people make a loop of it rather than driving out for a single house.
- Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto
- Peacock Lane
- ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo
- Pittock Mansion Holiday Display
- Winter Gleam Light Experience at Oaks Park
- Christmas on the Campground
- Winter Wonderland at Portland International Raceway
- Schilling Lights on Lark
Make a night of it. This is stop 2 on our 8-stop Portland lights loop — about 25.5 miles and 93 minutes of driving in total.