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Portland Christmas Ships |
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The 2001 Christmas Ships will ply the waters of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers December 10-22. Even though not all boats make it out every night of the two weeks the ships parade on the rivers of Portland, most do. Weather is the only element that will cancel the ships performance. Many of the displays can be seen each year, but as skippers retire they hand down their well known displays to continue the tradition and as well as new boats that join the flotilla and bring with them new Christmas oriented lighted exhibits, The Christmas Ship Parade started 46 years ago with one lone sailboat from Portland Yacht Club. The next year the parade started to grow. Today, the Christmas Ship Fleet averages 55 to 60 boats between the Columbia and Willamette River fleets. Now the displays are brightly lit and can be seen from bank to bank on each river. The Portland tradition packs restaurants along the two rivers. Portland-Vancouver residents line the banks of both rivers to watch the parade. To show their appreciation, many homes and cars along the way flash their porch and headlights as the fleet passes. The two fleets, like years past, will join together for two performances in 2001. Sunday, December 16, 2001, both fleets will be in Multnomah Channel, a narrow body of water between Portland and St. Helens along Highway 30 and Sauvie Island. This is one of the most enjoyable trips for the Christmas Ship Fleet. Santa Claus always makes an appearance in Multnomah Channel aboard one of the boats. Saturday night December 22nd, the two fleets will join forces on the Willamette River. They will parade from the Sellwood Bridge to Milwaukie. They will turn around, go back through Sellwood to downtown Portland. The fleet will then proceed to Swan Island. Following a performance at Swan Island, the Columbia River fleet will return to their moorages on the river that divides Oregon and Washington. For more information please call (503) 944-0662 or check out the website at www.christmasships.org |
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Willamette River Fleet Schedule |
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Monday, Dec. 10th assemble 7:00 pm, Riverplace Marina to Swan Island Tuesday, Dec. 11th assemble 7:00 pm, Riverplace Marina to Milwaukie Wednesday, Dec. 12th assemble 7:00 pm, Riverplace Marina to Swan Island Thursday, Dec. 13th assemble 7:00 pm, Riverplace Marina to Milwaukie Friday, Dec. 14th assemble 7:00 pm, Riverplace Marina to Swan Island Saturday, Dec. 15th assemble 5:00 pm, Riverplace Marina to Milwaukie Sunday, Dec. 16th assemble 4:00 pm, Coon Island, arrive Scappoose approx. 5:00 pm, continue up the Multnomah Channel to Willamette River. Both fleets together tonight. Monday, Dec.17th assemble 7:00 pm, Riverplace Marina to Milwaukie Tuesday, Dec.18th assemble 7:00 pm, Riverplace Marina to Swan Island Wednesday, Dec. 19th assemble 7:00 pm, Riverplace Marina to Milwaukie Thursday , Dec. 20th assemble 7:00 pm, Riverplace Marina to Swan Island Friday , Dec. 21st assemble 7:00 pm, Riverplace Marina to Milwaukie, and then to Oregon Yacht Club Saturday, Dec. 22rd assemble 4:30 pm, Sellwood Bridge then upriver to Milwaukie, then downriver to Swan Island. Arrival time 5:00 pm (approx). Both fleets together tonight. Allow approximately 30 minutes to reach our destination each evening. Times can vary due to weather conditions, debris in the river, and commercial river traffic with the right of way. |