# Christmas parades and tree lightings in Portland, 2026

> We found three Christmas parades and tree lightings in and around Portland with 2026 dates: one parade and two tree lightings and lighting nights, all free to watch. Each one has the date, start time, price and a link to the organizer’s page.

- Last checked: 2026-10-29
- 3 parades and tree lightings with 2026 dates
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## Christmas parades

- **Christmas Ships Parade** at Willamette and Columbia rivers; Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Riverplace Esplanade are good viewing spots, Portland. When: Dec 3 – Dec 20. Time: Most nights 7–9pm; Dec 20 finale 5–7pm. Price: Free to watch from shore. Official page: https://www.christmasships.org/parade-schedule (checked 2026-10-29)

## Tree lightings and lighting nights

- **Tree Lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square** at Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave., Downtown Portland. When: Fri, Nov 27, 2026. Time: 5:30–6:45pm. Price: Free. Official page: https://www.thesquarepdx.org/event/42nd-annual-tree-lighting-ceremony/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Vancouver Rotary Tree Lighting with the Christmas Ships** at Grant Street Pier, Vancouver, WA. When: Fri, Nov 27, 2026. Time: 4–5pm (the ships escort Santa to the waterfront). Price: Free. Official page: https://www.christmasships.org/parade-schedule (checked 2026-10-29)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### When is the Christmas parade in Portland in 2026?
Christmas Ships Parade: Dec 3 – Dec 20, Most nights 7–9pm; Dec 20 finale 5–7pm (Portland).

### When is the Christmas tree lighting in Portland?
Tree Lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square at Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave.: Fri, Nov 27, 2026, 5:30–6:45pm. Vancouver Rotary Tree Lighting with the Christmas Ships at Grant Street Pier: Fri, Nov 27, 2026, 4–5pm (the ships escort Santa to the waterfront).

### Are Christmas parades and tree lightings in Portland free?
All of the ones we list are free to watch: Tree Lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square, Vancouver Rotary Tree Lighting with the Christmas Ships and Christmas Ships Parade. Some charge for extras like Santa photos or rides, and each card says so.

### Which are best for little kids?
Evening ones start after dark and are colder, so bring layers and a blanket for the stroller. Get there early for a curb spot near the start so little ones can see.

### How do you check these parades and tree lightings?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them every week through early December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).