Seattle’s waterways will light up next month with two holiday boat parades: The annual Argosy Christmas Ships and a separate Christmas Boat Parade on Lake Union.
Argosy’s Christmas Ship Festival is a long-running Seattle tradition in which Argosy decorates its vessels and hosts on-board choirs that perform for crowds gathered along the shoreline. The company has multiple sailings planned over the next several weeks, including two that will stop in Ballard with bonfires and viewing events at Golden Gardens and Carkeek Park.
On Thursday, Dec. 11, two Argosy sailings will depart from Shilshole Marina. The first leaves at 5 p.m. and heads to Carkeek Park, where people typically gather near the beach for the caroling and bonfires. The second departs at 8 p.m. and will stop at Golden Gardens Beach for another shoreline viewing event.
A separate Christmas Boat Parade is planned for Saturday, Dec. 13 on Lake Union.
The Lake Union parade will begin in front of Fremont Tugboats, just east of the Aurora Bridge and across from Morrison’s Fuel Dock. Registered vessels will line up west to east toward Gas Works Park starting at 6:30 p.m., with the parade officially beginning at 7 p.m. The lead vessel will be a yellow-and-blue tugboat from Western Towboat.
The parade will end at Morrison’s North Star Fuel Dock, where judges will be stationed along the dock to review decorated boats. The event also includes a toy drive benefiting Seattle Children’s Hospital. Registered participants can drop off toys when picking up parade numbers at Ballard West Marine at 1400 NW 45th St. from Dec. 10–13.
Photo: Argosy Christmas Ships by David Rosen