Recreational Boating Information for the Northwest

The Argosy Christmas Ship festival is a holiday celebration that has been a Northwest tradition for over 60 years. Its main purpose is to bring communities together to celebrate the holiday season. 

From the end of November through December 23rd the Argosy Christmas Ship sails to different Puget Sound waterfront communities, Choirs onboard sing 20-minute performances to these communities, all broadcast via state-of-the-art speaker system. 

On shore, thousands of people gather around roaring bonfires anticipating the arrival of the Christmas Ship. You can either get on board the Christmas Ship or one of the Parade ships that follow, or join with friends and neighbors to gather together for your own caroling tradition and of course follow alone in your lighted vessel!

Witness one of the largest holiday flotillas of its kind, the Christmas Ship™ - Parade of Boats!

The 3rd Annual Christmas Ship™ Parade of Boats Night will add a special twinkle to Lake Union on the evening of Friday, December 15 between 7pm and 9pm. Brightly decorated boats will convene in Lake Union and begin their promenade westward through the Fremont Cut around 8:30 pm. More than 65 boats registered to participate in 2016, with more expected this season.

Parade Vessel Registration: Join this holiday tradition by registering your decorated boat to be part of the Parade! Participating vessels will be judged by an onshore panel of local media and maritime personalities and awards will be given to the most creative and festive boats.  Click here for more details...
​click Argosy Christmas Ships 
to view more information
2017 schedule:
2014 Christmas Ship Schedule



NW EventsOpening Day4th of JulySeafairChristmas Ships

Friday, November 24
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Departure: Lake Union Park Dock
Choir: Kirkland Choral Society
1st: Sea. Tennis Club @ 7:20 PM
2nd: Park Shore @ 7:50 PM

Saturday, November 25
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Departure: Kirkland City Dock
Choir: Master Chorus Eastside
1st: Marina Park @ 6:40 PM
2nd: Gas Works Park @ 7:50 PM

Sunday, November 26
5:00 PM – 7:20 PM
Departure: Lake Union Park Dock
Choir: Dickens Carolers
1st: MOHAI @ 5:05 PM
2nd: Seattle Y.C. @ 6:00 PM
3rd: Ivars  Lk Union @ 6:35 PM

Friday, December 1
7:00 PM – 9:15 PM
Departure: Hyatt - Renton
Choir: Dickens Carolers
1st: Gene Coulon Park @ 7:05 PM
2nd: Mercer Bch Club @ 8:35 PM

Saturday, December 2 
2:30 PM – 4:45 PM
Departure: Leschi Marina
Choir: Rainier Youth Choir
1st: Seward Park @ 3:10 PM
2nd: Madrona Bch Park @ 4:10 PM


Saturday, December 2
7:00 PM – 9:45 PM
Departure: Leschi Marina
Choir: Dickens Carolers
1st: Hyatt Regency @ 8:00 PM
2nd: Newport Y.C. @ 8:55 PM

Sunday, December 3
2:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Departure: Leschi Marina
Choir: Dickens Carolers
1st: Pritchard Bch Park @ 2:45 PM
2nd: Newcastle Beach @ 3:40 PM

Sunday, December 3
7:00 PM – 9:20 PM
Departure: Leschi Marina
Choir: Seattle Girls Choir
1st: Ferdinand Str Park @ 7:40 PM
2nd: Stan Sayres Park @ 8:15 PM
3rd: Mt. Baker Beach @ 8:45 PM

Wednesday, December 6
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Departure: Des Moines Marina
Choir: Song of Seattle
1st: Des Moines Beach @ 7:20 PM
2nd: Redondo Beach @ 8:20 PM


Thursday, December 7
6:30 PM – 9:20 PM
Departure: Poulsbo Marina
Choir: N Kitsap Northern Lights
1st: Poulsbo Marina @ 6:30 PM
2nd: Suquamish Dock @ 7:40 PM
3rd: Lemolo @ 8:45 PM

Friday, December 8
7:00 PM – 9:45 PM
Departure: Pier 55
Choir: Choir of the Sound
1st: Manchester @ 8:05 PM
2nd: Myrtle Edwards Pk @ 9:25 PM

Saturday, December 9
2:30 PM – 5:15 PM
Departure: Pier 55
Choir: Emerald City Voices
1st: Duwamish WW Pk @ 3:30 PM
2nd: Salty’s on Alki @ 4:35 PM

Saturday, December 9
7:15 PM – 10:00 PM
Departure: Pier 55
Choir: Dickens Carolers
1st: Lowman Bch Park @ 8:10 PM
2nd: Alki Beach Park @ 8:55 PM

Sunday, December 10
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
*SPECIAL EVENT*
Christmas Ship™ featuring Caspar Babypants. Departs from the Dock Street Marina in Tacoma.

Sunday, December 10
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Departure: Tacoma
Choir: Olympia Youth Choir
1st: Maritime Pier G.H. @ 8:15 PM
2nd: Jack Hyde Park @ 9:15 PM

Monday, December 11
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Departure: Tacoma
Choir: Puyallup H.S. Norselanders
1st: Dash Point Park @ 7:50 PM
2nd: Brown’s Point @ 8:25 PM


Wednesday, December 13
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Departure: Edmonds
Choir: CSL Choir
1st: Edmonds Fish Pier @ 7:20 PM
2nd: Richmond Beach @ 8:20 PM

Thursday, December 14
7:00 PM – 9:45 PM
Departure: Pier 55
Choir: Dickens Carolers
1st: Winslow  City Dock @ 8:00 PM
2nd: Don Armini @ 9:10 PM

Friday, December 15 
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
*PARADE OF BOATS*
Departure: Lake Union Park Dock
Choir: Dickens Carolers
1st: Center Lake Union @ 7:20 PM
2nd: Fremont @ 8:10 PM

Saturday, December 16
2:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Departure: Shilshole Marina
Choir: Emerald City Voices 
1st: Ballard Locks @ 3:40 PM
2nd: Golden Gardens @ 4:20 PM

Saturday, December 16
7:00 PM – 9:15 PM
Departure: Shilshole Marina
Choir: Choir of the Sound
1st: Carkeek Park @ 7:30 PM
2nd: Blue Ridge @ 8:00 PM
3rd: Shilshole Bay @ 8:40 PM

Sunday, December 17
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Departure: Kirkland City Dock
Choir: Snohomish County Youth
1st: Medina Com. Park @ 3:05 PM
2nd: Carillon Point @ 3:55 PM

Sunday, December 17
7:00 PM – 9:10 PM
Departure: Kirkland City Dock
Choir: Dickens Carolers
1st: O.O. Denny Park @ 7:30 PM
2nd: Laurelhurst Beach @ 8:25 PM

Monday, December 18 
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Departure: Kirkland City Dock
Choir: Pacific Sound Chorus
1st: Juanita Beach Park @ 7:20 PM
2nd: Tracy Owen Park @ 8:25 PM


Tuesday, December 19 
7:00 PM – 9:35 PM
Departure: Kirkland City Dock
Choir: Kirkland Choral Society
1st: Beaux Arts @ 7:45 PM
2nd: Meydenbauer @ 8:15 PM
3rd: Madison Park @ 8:45 PM

Wednesday, December 20
 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Departure: Kirkland City Dock
Choir: Starlight Carolers
1st: Lk Forest Civic Club @ 7:55 PM
2nd: W.G. Magnuson Pk @ 8:55 PM


Thursday, December 21
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Departure: Kirkland City Dock
Choir: Starlight Carolers
1st: Kirkland Marina Pk @ 2:40 PM
2nd: Windermere Beach @ 3:40 PM

Thursday, December 21 
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Departure: Kirkland City Dock
Choir: Dickens Carolers
1st: Sheridan Beach Club @ 7:55 PM
2nd: Matthews Beach Pk @ 8:45 PM

​Friday, December 22
2:00 PM – 4:40 PM
Departure: Kirkland City Dock
Choir: Dickens Carolers
1st: Mercerwood Shore @ 3:00 PM
2nd: Covenant Shores @ 3:35 PM

Friday, December 2
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Departure: Kirkland City Dock
Choir: Dickens Carolers
1st: Luther Burbank Park @ 7:50 PM
2nd: Road End Beach Pk @ 8:50 PM

Saturday, December 23
2:30 PM – 4:25 PM
Departure: Kirkland City Dock
Choir: Dickens Carolers
1st: Waverly Beach Park @ 2:45 PM
2nd: Houghton Beach @ 3:50 PM

Saturday, December 23
7:00 PM – 10:05 PM | *GRAND FINALE NIGHT*
Departure: Kirkland City Dock
Choir: Dickens Carolers
1st: Portage Bay @ 7:45 PM
2nd: Gas Works Park @ 8:45 PM



Special Event: Christmas Ship™ presents Caspar Babypants!

Sunday, December 10, 2017
1:00 to 3:00 PM | Tacoma, WA

Bring your little ones to Tacoma for a special children’s musical event aboard the official Christmas Ship™! Dance, sing, and be silly with former rocker and Seattle’s favorite children’s performer, Caspar Babypants! Click here for details...













Click here for information on
 Caspar Babypants!