Viewing guide · Vancouver, Camas and Washougal

Christmas Ships Parade 2026 in Vancouver, WA: the Washington-side schedule and where to watch

By Permanent Lights NW · Last updated September 25, 2026 · Checked against organizers' and official pages

The 2026 Christmas Ships schedule is published, and nine sailings can be watched from the Washington side: Friday, November 27 (a 4 p.m. Santa escort to the Vancouver waterfront) and December 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 16, 17 and 18. Watching from shore is free.

Most sailings leave M. James Gleason Boat Ramp in Portland at 7 p.m. On Vancouver waterfront nights the organizer estimates the boats reach Grant Street Pier around 7:50 p.m. The combined fleet comes to the Port of Camas-Washougal on Saturday, December 5, at 6 p.m. There's no parade on December 6, 10 or 14.

An independent viewing guide. Permanent Lights NW isn't part of the Christmas Ships Parade. Times are the organizer's estimates and can change with weather, river debris and boat traffic, so check christmasships.org on the day.

The nine Washington-side nights in 2026

FriNov 27Vancouver waterfront (Santa escort)4 p.m.
ThuDec 3Vancouver waterfront7 p.m.
SatDec 5Camas-Washougal6 p.m.
MonDec 7Wintler Park7 p.m.
TueDec 8I-205 Bridge to SE 164th Ave7 p.m.
FriDec 11Vancouver waterfront7 p.m.
WedDec 16Vancouver waterfront7 p.m.
ThuDec 17I-205 Bridge to SE 164th Ave7 p.m.
FriDec 18Wintler Park7 p.m.

7 p.m. is when the fleet leaves Gleason Boat Ramp in Portland; the boats reach Washington viewing spots later.

The 2026 Washington-side schedule

Christmas Ships 2026 sailings visible from Clark County: date, fleet and route, start time and where to watch
Date	Fleet and route	Starts	Where to watch in Clark County
Fri, Nov 27[2][5]	Combined fleet: Santa escort to the Vancouver waterfrontFor the Vancouver Rotary community tree lighting	4–5 p.m.	Grant Street Pier, 115 SE Columbia WaySanta and Mrs. Claus arrive by tugboat
Thu, Dec 3[2][6]	Combined fleet: Gleason Boat Ramp to Vancouver Waterfront / Hayden Bay	7 p.m. from Gleason	Surprise Beach about 7:30 p.m.; Grant Street Pier about 7:50 p.m.Organizer's estimates
Sat, Dec 5[2][8][12]	Combined fleet: Camas / Washougal / Steamboat Landing Park	6 p.m. at the Port	Port of Camas-Washougal parks, Washougal Waterfront Park, Steamboat Landing ParkThe boats parade off the Port for about an hour, then head west along the Washington shore, reaching the Vancouver-Portland area around 8:30 p.m.
Mon, Dec 7[2][9]	Columbia fleet: Washington Shores / Wintler Park / I-5 Bridge	7 p.m. from Gleason	Wintler Park and Tidewater CoveThe fleet crosses to the Washington side, then heads downriver toward the I-5 Bridge around 7:30 p.m.
Tue, Dec 8[2][11]	Columbia fleet: I-205 / Steamboat Landing / 164th Ave	7 p.m. from Gleason	Washington shore east of the I-205 Bridge, toward SE 164th AveThe organizer says the fleet stays on the Washington side.
Fri, Dec 11[2][7]	Columbia fleet: Vancouver Waterfront / Hayden Bay	7 p.m. from Gleason	Same route as December 3Grant Street Pier about 7:50 p.m. (organizer's estimate)
Wed, Dec 16[2]	Columbia fleet: Vancouver Waterfront / Hayden Bay	7 p.m. from Gleason	Same route as December 3
Thu, Dec 17[2]	Columbia fleet: I-205 / Steamboat Landing / 164th Ave	7 p.m. from Gleason	Same route as December 8
Fri, Dec 18[2][10]	Columbia fleet: Washington Shores / Wintler Park / I-5 Bridge	7 p.m. from Gleason	Same route as December 7

The other 2026 nights run on the Oregon side: North Portland Harbor (December 4, 9 and 15), St. Helens (December 12), Scappoose (December 13), Lake Oswego (December 19) and downtown Portland to St. Johns (December 20). No parade December 6, 10 or 14. All times are approximate.

Where to watch on the Washington side

Pick your spot by night; the boats don't pass every park every night.

Grant Street Pier and Vancouver Waterfront Park (downtown Vancouver): November 27 and December 3, 11 and 16. Visit Vancouver WA calls the downtown waterfront the main Clark County viewing area and says the park and the Waterfront Renaissance Trail are ADA-accessible.
Surprise Beach (SE Columbia Way): on waterfront nights the organizer estimates the boats pass around 7:30 p.m., before they reach the pier. We haven't checked parking there.
Wintler Park and Tidewater Cove (east of downtown): December 7 and 18. On waterfront nights the fleet also crosses near Tidewater Cove at the start of its route.
Port of Camas-Washougal, Washougal Waterfront Park (56 S 1st St) and Steamboat Landing Park (15th St): Saturday, December 5, from 6 p.m. It's the only 2026 night the organizer lists for the Washougal parks.
Waterfront restaurants and hotels: the organizer lists The Cove (5731 SE Columbia Way), McMenamins on the Columbia (1801 SE Columbia River Dr) and Hotel Indigo (550 Waterfront Way) among places to watch, and its FAQ says viewing reservations can book out months ahead. Visit Vancouver WA says McMenamins seats first come, first served and is usually full inside by 6:30 p.m.

The four viewing parks are pinned on our Clark County Christmas lights map, with directions to each.

Heading to Washougal on December 8 or 17? Those sailings are named “I-205 / Steamboat Landing / 164th Ave”, but the organizer's route description ends around SE 164th Avenue in Vancouver, well west of Steamboat Landing Park. Only December 5 is listed for the Washougal parks, so check with the organizer before you drive out on the other nights.

Sources [4][6][8][9][11][13][14]

Parking

Downtown Vancouver has parking garages and metered street spaces, and Visit Vancouver WA says waterfront parking fills quickly on sailing nights. For its 2024 tree lighting, the Vancouver Rotary listed two paid lots near the water: The Waterfront Vancouver Parking Center (700 W Columbia Way) and the AC Hotel's north lot (333 W Columbia Way).

Visit Vancouver WA describes the lots at the Camas and Washougal parks as limited, though it says Washougal Waterfront Park has ample parking.

Sources [13][17]

November 27: Santa, the ships and the tree lighting

The season starts the day after Thanksgiving. From 4 p.m., the combined fleet escorts Santa and Mrs. Claus, who arrive by tugboat, to Grant Street Pier. Visit Vancouver WA lists the Vancouver Community Tree Lighting that afternoon from 4 to 6:30 p.m., with the tree in Esther Short Park lit at 6 p.m.

In 2025 the Rotary's schedule put a lighted vehicle parade up Columbia Way at 5:30 p.m., between Santa's arrival and the tree lighting. The Rotary hadn't posted its 2026 schedule when we checked.

Sources [5][15][16]

If the weather turns

The organizer's FAQ names severe weather as the reason a parade gets canceled, and the call is made close to parade time. Updates go on christmasships.org and the parade's social media, and the organizer offers FlashAlerts. Weather, river debris and commercial boat traffic can also shift the times.

It isn't only weather: on December 19, 2025, sailings on both rivers were canceled because of excessive debris in the water.

Sources [1][4]

Tips for a cold night on the river

Arrive early. Waterfront parking and the best spots fill quickly.
Dress for wind off the river: layers, a hat, a blanket and something warm to drink.
Want to see the boats up close? In 2026 the docks open to the public at St. Helens on December 12 before the parade, and at RiverPlace Marina in Portland on December 19 (8 to 10 p.m.) and December 20 (2 to 4:30 p.m.). The boats don't take passengers.
The skippers like hearing from spectators. The organizer says Facebook and Instagram are the best ways to reach them.
Some third-party calendars list a Vancouver waterfront sailing on December 12. The official 2026 schedule has the fleet at St. Helens that night, so go by christmasships.org.
Making a night of it? Holidays on Franklin is about 2 miles north of the waterfront, as the crow flies. Check its hours in our Holidays on Franklin guide first.

Sources [2][4][13]

About the parade

The Christmas Ships Parade began in 1954 with one decorated sailboat, and the organizer calls it the longest continuously running lighted boat parade in the U.S. Around 80 boats, 14 to 65 feet long, take part over 15 nights each December.

It's run by an all-volunteer nonprofit with no paid staff, and the skippers pay their own costs. The Columbia fleet sails most nights from M. James Gleason Boat Ramp in Portland. The Willamette fleet sails from RiverPlace Marina in downtown Portland and can't be seen from Clark County. On combined nights both fleets sail together, a line of boats the organizer says can stretch nearly two miles.

Sources [2][3][4]

Christmas Ships questions

What nights do the Christmas Ships come to Vancouver in 2026?

Nine sailings can be seen from Clark County: November 27 (a 4 p.m. Santa escort to the Vancouver waterfront) and December 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 16, 17 and 18. The boats run along downtown Vancouver's waterfront on November 27 and December 3, 11 and 16.

What time do the Christmas Ships pass the Vancouver waterfront?

The fleet leaves Gleason Boat Ramp in Portland at 7 p.m. On Vancouver waterfront nights the organizer estimates about 7:30 p.m. at Surprise Beach and 7:50 p.m. at Grant Street Pier. Times are approximate and can shift with weather and river traffic.

Where is the best place to watch the Christmas Ships in Vancouver?

Grant Street Pier and Vancouver Waterfront Park on waterfront nights (December 3, 11 and 16), and Wintler Park on Washington Shores nights (December 7 and 18). In Camas and Washougal, go to the Port of Camas-Washougal parks on December 5.

Do the Christmas Ships come to Camas or Washougal?

Yes, on Saturday, December 5, 2026. The combined fleet gathers off the Port of Camas-Washougal at 6 p.m. and parades nearby for about an hour.

Where do I park to watch the Christmas Ships downtown?

Use a downtown garage or metered street parking, and arrive early; waterfront parking fills quickly. The Waterfront Vancouver Parking Center at 700 W Columbia Way is a paid lot the Vancouver Rotary listed in 2024.

Is the Christmas Ships Parade free?

Yes. Watching from public shoreline is free and there are no tickets. Waterfront restaurants and hotels may take viewing reservations.

Which Vancouver restaurants have a view of the Christmas Ships?

The organizer lists The Cove (5731 SE Columbia Way), McMenamins on the Columbia (1801 SE Columbia River Dr) and Hotel Indigo (550 Waterfront Way) among places to watch, and its FAQ says viewing reservations can book out months ahead. Visit Vancouver WA says McMenamins seats first come, first served and is usually full inside by 6:30 p.m.

Is the Christmas Ships Parade canceled tonight?

Check christmasships.org and the parade's Facebook page, or sign up for its FlashAlerts. Severe weather is the usual reason for a cancellation, though river debris canceled one night in 2025, and the decision is made close to parade time.

How many boats are in the Christmas Ships Parade?

About 80 boats take part over the season, from 14 to 65 feet long, according to the organizer. Combined-fleet nights bring the Columbia and Willamette boats together.

What's the difference between the Columbia and Willamette fleets?

The Columbia fleet sails the Columbia River, mostly from Gleason Boat Ramp, and it's the one you can see from Vancouver. The Willamette fleet sails from RiverPlace Marina in downtown Portland. On combined nights they sail together.

How long has the Christmas Ships Parade been going?

Since 1954, when it started with a single decorated sailboat.

Can I see the Christmas Ships up close?

In 2026 the docks open to the public at St. Helens on December 12 before the parade, and at RiverPlace Marina on December 19 (8 to 10 p.m.) and December 20 (2 to 4:30 p.m.). The boats don't give rides.

Sources

Dates, prices and rules on this page come from these pages, read on September 25, 2026. Where 2026 details weren't published yet, we show 2025 and say so. Organizers change plans, so check the official site before you go.