Christmas Ships Keep Floating Through the Holiday Season

Portland, December 13th, 2015. This year marks the 61th anniversary of Portland’s Christmas Ships Parade. Volunteers are making it easier for crowds to track the fleet. On parade nights, a crew member from each fleet will be sending out live tweets.  Those tweets will provide real time updates.  Each tweet will contain either “#WillametteFleet” or “#ColumbiaFleet.”  Those tweets can be seen on the Christmas Ship home page or directly from the Twitter feed. 

The fleet is much like the post office, members forge ahead through rain, snow, and of course, dark of night. Organizers say, “The increase contact we see through the web page here, as well as through our Facebook page and Twitter feed, further cement the incredible interest shown for this event. Christmas Ships Parade fans not only show up to visit us in all sorts of weather, but they’re actively involved in communicating with the leadership, sharing pictures and videos, making donations, and offering suggestions. You support is invaluable, and we thank you for all you do for us.” (Below is the schedule for both the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.)

Here’s a preview of some of the floating festivities on display this year. There are some new boats this year!

  

2015 Willamette River Parade Schedule:

 

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Sunday, Dec. 13th – Scappoose/Multnomah Channel – 4:30PM – Combined Fleet

The combined Willamette and Columbia fleets will depart from Coon Island at 4:30pm and arrive in the Scappoose area at approximately 5:00pm. They will travel up the Multnomah Channel to the Fred’s Marina area. This is a long run with the ships arriving at Fred’s Marina at approximately 8:30pm. From there, the fleet will disperse to their respective moorages.

Additional information and viewing locations

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Monday, Dec 14th – No Parade this evening

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Tuesday, Dec. 15th – OMSI to Fremont Bridge – 7:00PM

At 7:00PM, the Willamette Fleet assembles in front of Riverplace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland). The parade will begin in the OMSI/Riverplace area before heading upstream to the Spaghetti Factory then head downriver to the area of the Fremont Bridge  The fleet will go under the bridge and then return to Riverplace Marina. The fleet will be out for about two hours.

Restaurant and hotel links, outdoor viewing location and further details

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Wednesday, Dec. 16th – Milwaukie – 7:00PM

The Willamette Fleet assembles in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland) at 7:00PM and travels upriver to the area of the Milwaukie Boat Ramp. The fleet will arrive about 7:45PM and about 8:15P the fleet turns downriver and returns to RiverPlace Marina. On the nights that Oregon Yacht Club is listed, the fleet will go in below Oaks Park and in front of the floating homes on the way back to RiverPlace.

Restaurants and hotel links, outdoor viewing locations and further details

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Thursday, Dec. 17th – OMSI to Fremont Bridge – 7:00PM

At 7:00PM, the Willamette Fleet assembles in front of Riverplace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland). The parade will begin in the OMSI/Riverplace area before heading upstream to the Spaghetti Factory then head downriver to the area of the Fremont Bridge  The fleet will go under the bridge and then return to Riverplace Marina. The fleet will be out for about two hours.

Restaurant and hotel links, outdoor viewing location and further details

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Friday, Dec. 18th – Milwaukie, Oregon Yacht Club – 7:00PM

The Willamette Fleet assembles in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland) at 7:00PM and travels upriver to the area of the Milwaukie Boat Ramp. The fleet will arrive about 7:45PM and about 8:15P the fleet turns downriver and returns to RiverPlace Marina. On the nights that Oregon Yacht Club is listed, the fleet will go in below Oaks Park and in front of the floating homes on the way back to RiverPlace.

Restaurants and hotel links, outdoor viewing locations and further details

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Saturday, Dec. 19th – Lake Oswego – 5:30PM – Combined Fleet

From 3 – 5:30pm, there will be a “Meet & Greet” with the Christmas Ships captains at Riverplace Marina (downtown Portland).  Come say hello, take a look at the boats up close, or  take some pictures with us.  Santa will be there!  At 5:30PM, both fleets will leave RiverPlace Marina headed to Lake Oswego, arriving about 6:45P – 7:00, subject to weather and river conditions. The ships will go as far as George Rogers Park and turn back to Portland.

Restaurant, hotel and outdoor viewing locations, maps and further details

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Sunday, Dec. 20th – RiverPlace/John’s Landing/St. John’s Bridge – 5:00PM – Combined Fleet

At 5:00PM, the Willamette and Columbia Fleets assemble in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland). The parade will begin in the OMSI/Riverplace area and proceed upstream to the Spaghetti Factory before heading downriver to St. John’s arriving at approximately 6:30 PM and remain in the area for about 30 minutes. The parade will then continue on to the Columbia River and each boat owners home port. The arrival times are dependent upon bridge openings that are beyond the control of the Christmas Ships. Please check our Twitter feed for updates to our time and location.

Restaurant, hotel and outdoor viewing locations, maps and further details

 

 

Columbia Fleet:

 

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Sunday, Dec. 13th – Scappoose/Multnomah Channel – 4:30PM – Combined Fleet

The combined Willamette and Columbia fleets will depart from Coon Island at 4:30pm and arrive in the Scappoose area at approximately 5:00pm. They will travel up the Multnomah Channel to the Fred’s Marina area. This is a long run with the ships arriving at Fred’s Marina at approximately 8:30pm. From there, the fleet will disperse to their respective moorages.

Additional information and viewing locations

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Monday, Dec 14th – No Parade this evening

 

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Tuesday, Dec. 15th – I-5 Bridge area / Hayden Bay – 7:00PM

At 7:00PM, the Columbia Fleet assembles in front of James M. Gleason Boat Ramp, 43rd/NE Marine Drive and turns at the east end of the parking lot to head downriver to the I-5 Bridge Area including Grandma’s Cove, arriving at approximately 7:30 PM at Beaches, and Hayden Bay approximately 8:45 PM.

Additional information, restaurants and outdoor viewing locations

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Wednesday, Dec. 16th – James Gleason Boat Ramp/WA Shores/Wintler Park/I-5 Bridge area – 7:00PM

At 7:00PM, the Columbia Fleet assembles in front of James M. Gleason Boat Ramp, 43rd/NE Marine Drive and remains for about the first half hour, then heads across the river to the Washington Shoreline until about 8pm.  Then heads downriver to the I-5 Bridge Area, arriving at approximately 8:15 PM.

Additional information, restaurants and outdoor viewing locations

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Thursday, Dec. 17th – I-5 Bridge area / Hayden Bay – 7:00PM

At 7:00PM, the Columbia Fleet assembles in front of James M. Gleason Boat Ramp, 43rd/NE Marine Drive and turns at the east end of the parking lot to head downriver to the I-5 Bridge Area including Grandma’s Cove, arriving at approximately 7:30 PM at Beaches, and Hayden Bay approximately 8:45 PM.

Additional information, restaurants and outdoor viewing locations

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Friday, Dec. 18th – North Portland Harbor – 7:00PM

At 7:00PM, the fleet will assemble in the area of the James. M Gleason boat ramp, (NE 43rd/Marine Dr), and then head downriver to North Portland Harbor. North Portland Harbor is located on the Oregon side of Hayden Island.

Additional information, restaurants and outdoor viewing locations

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Saturday, Dec. 19th – Lake Oswego – 5:30PM – Combined Fleet

From 3 – 5:30pm, there will be a “Meet & Greet” with the Christmas Ships captains at Riverplace Marina (downtown Portland).  Come say hello, take a look at the boats up close, or  take some pictures with us.  Santa will be there!  At 5:30PM, both fleets will leave RiverPlace Marina headed to Lake Oswego, arriving about 6:45P – 7:00, subject to weather and river conditions. The ships will go as far as George Rogers Park and turn back to Portland.

Restaurant, hotel and outdoor viewing locations, maps and further details

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Sunday, Dec. 20th – RiverPlace/John’s Landing/St. John’s Bridge – 5:00PM – Combined Fleet

At 5:00PM, the Willamette and Columbia Fleets assemble in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland). The parade will begin in the OMSI/Riverplace area and proceed upstream to the Spaghetti Factory before heading downriver to St. John’s arriving at approximately 6:30 PM and remain in the area for about 30 minutes. The parade will then continue on to the Columbia River and each boat owners home port. The arrival times are dependent upon bridge openings that are beyond the control of the Christmas Ships.  Please check our Twitter feed for updates to our time and location.

Restaurant, hotel and outdoor viewing locations, maps and further details