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Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Christmas Ships Parade returns
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Photo Courtesy of Christmas Ships Parade, Oregon Heritage Commission and Stephen Cridland
The colorful ships line the docks at a previous Christmas Ships Parade event in St. Helens.
Photo courtesy of Christmas Ships Parade, Oregon Heritage Commission and Stephen Cridland
The decorated ships light up the dockside along the Columbia County Courthouse in St. Helens.
Originally published in The Chronicle Vol. 139 Nov. 24, 2021 ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
After facing its share of pandemic difficulties, the annual Christmas Ships Parade along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers will bring a resurgence of holiday cheer to Columbia County in December. In 2020, the parade was conducted, but all meet and greet events and open house activities were canceled due to the pandemic. The 2021 Christmas Ships Parade will mark its 67th year with an Oregon Heritage Tradition designation by the Oregon Heritage Commission. “We are proud to continue as the longest continuously operating lighted boat parade in the U.S.,” Christmas Ships Parade Board and fleet member Kelly Marks said. The parade kicks off on Dec. 11 in St. Helens and Dec. 12 in Scappoose. Marks told The Chronicle the event will proceed “business as usual,” with organizers anticipating a high turnout this year. “We are still receiving participant registrations, so it’s too early to confirm numbers,” Marks said. “At this point, we estimate that there will be between 70 and 90 boats this year.”
The event draws in both first time and past parade participants. “Parade participants tend to return each year – several have been parading for over 40 years,” Marks said. “Quite a few have made this a multigenerational tradition, with the children of previous (parade participants) returning with their own boats and families to parade with us.” Route details 6 p.m. Dec. 11 St. Helens - The combined fleet (Columbia River and Willamette River Fleets) assembles at St. Helens City Docks and heads downriver to Columbia City, and weather/river conditions permitting crosses to the Washington side and the RV Park, then returns to St. Helens City Docks. The fleet is out about two hours. Ships remain overnight at St. Helens City Docks and leave Sunday for the trip up Multnomah Channel. Parade organizers list the following outdoor viewing locations in Columbia County for the Christmas Ships parade: • Columbia Courthouse - Above the St. Helens City Docks • Columbia View Park - South of the courthouse parking lot • Sand Island - Access the
river from St. Helens • Caples House Museum 1925 First St., Columbia City • Pixie Park - Columbia City
It represents family, community, celebration and hope. It is a positive and uplifting experience unlike any other. ~ Kelly Marks, Christmas Ships Parade
History The Christmas Ships Parade began with one decorated sailboat in 1954 and has since grown to over 70 participating boats as of 2020. The entirely volunteer operated event runs for 15 nights during December and travels the Willamette and Columbia Rivers in the Portland Metro area providing opportunities for communities to view it from the river front, restaurants, parks, neighborhoods and waysides along the rivers. In a Dec. 2020 edition of The Chronicle, Oregon Heritage Commission’s Chair Chelsea Rose explained how the parade became part of Oregon’s cultural fabric. “The designation recognizes those traditions that
Photo courtesy of Christmas Ships Parade, Oregon Heritage Commission and Stephen Cridland
The Annual Christmas Ships bring the spirit of the season to Columbia County through colorful lighted water crafts.
have helped define the character of the state,” Rose said. “The Christmas Ships Parade ties into the importance of the river to Oregon’s heritage and Oregon’s identity. It is an event enjoyed by many as the ships travel the Willamette and Columbia Rivers and is a long-standing tradition for those who view it each year.” Organizers who work on the parade do so purely out of love for their communities, Marks said. “A 100% volunteer run organization, Christmas shippers spend countless hours on the chilly river waters to bring smiles to young and old alike,” Marks said. Volunteers dedicate over 3,000 hours in trainings, meetings, outreach, logistics, and the actual time in the parade. They host up to three meet and greet events at different locations where community members can see the boats up close, meet the boat owners, and learn about boat safety. Parade volunteers also partner with various charities throughout the year such as Fallen Firefighters, Ronald McDonald House, William Temple House, Portland Fire & Rescue Toy and Joy Makers, and Columbia River Fire & Rescue Toy N Joy and Holiday Hope. Marks said the City of St. Helens concentrates its efforts on making the event a spectacle for families to
remember. “The downtown St. Helens restaurants have fantastic viewing opportunities,” she said. “We understand the city aligns the tree lighting and other holiday festivities with our parade, and some of the businesses offer promotions.” While Marks said the Christmas Ships Parade is a treasured tradition for many families and community members, for her, the parade is about more than Christmas. “It represents family, community, celebration and hope,” she said. “It is a positive and uplifting experience unlike any other.” Parade future While organizers have considered extending the parade’s reach to various other holidays, one is more than enough to manage, according to Marks. “Don’t get me wrong we love it, but it is a major commitment at a busy time of year,” Marks said. “When we finish the season, most of us are exhausted, scrambling to spend some quality time with our families and pay (our) own parade expenses. So, asking participants to consider other holidays is a bigger conversation than it may seem.” With the Christmas Ships Parade’s previous successes, organizers hope to see the
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