Christmas Ships Parade (Portland)

The Christmas Ships Parade began in 1954 with a single decorated sailboat and has grown into the longest continuously operating illuminated boat parade in the United States. Around 80 boats, from 14-foot motorboats to 65-foot sailboats, light up the Columbia and Willamette rivers over many December nights, passing more than 80 miles of shoreline. Every captain is a volunteer who designs and pays for their own display, many have paraded for decades, and the nonprofit parade is a designated Oregon Heritage Tradition that also collects toys for kids with local fire departments.

Our take: Check the nightly route maps and pick a waterfront viewing spot, since the two fleets visit different stretches of river each night.