Portland, December 20th, 2015. Organizers have announced that Beer lovers helped raise $20,000 for charity this month at the Holiday Ale Festival. The event was held in Pioneer Courthouse Square December 2nd-6th.
Craft beer legends Rob Widmer with Widmer Brothers Brewing & Christian Ettinger with Hopworks Urban Brewery chat with KATU News’ Katherine Kisiel.
Joe Vithayathil, a feature reporter for FOX 12, had a chance to check out the Urban German Grill booth.
The annual festival dedicates its proceeds to the nonprofit Children’s Cancer Association MusicRx program, which delivers the healing power of music to children battling cancer and their families.
The Pacific Northwest’s only winter beer festival attracted 14,000 attendees, who tasted their way through 50 beers, ciders, mead and braggot.
Each offering was blended specifically for the event, or were vintage offerings hard to find in the region.
Those that rose to the top of fans’ reviews included the following: Reverend Nat’s Winter Abbey Spiced Cider (served warm); Deschutes Brewery’s Pacific Wunderland (Munich IPA); Feckin Irish Brewing’s Top’ O The Feckin Mornin (bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Espresso milk porter); 54° 40’ Brewing’s Snowball Headed for Hell (white IPA); Eel River Brewing’s Gargantua III (imperial barrel-aged strong ale); Bear Republic Brewing’s Cuvee du Santa (sour brown ale); and Fort George Brewery’s Deck the Helles (barrel-aged Helles lager).
Organizers rounded up the proceeds to the nearest $1,000 and then quadrupled the amount.
The festival also featured 46 special tappings, including a four-year vertical of The Abyss by Deschutes Brewing.
Fans used a mobile app to keep on top of the tappings and meet-the-brewer events.
The five-day festival starts each year the Wednesday after Thanksgiving; next year’s event is set for Nov. 30-Dec. 4th.
Portland, December 13th, 2015. This year marks the 61th anniversary of Portland’s Christmas Ships Parade. Volunteers are making it easier for crowds to track the fleet. On parade nights, a crew member from each fleet will be sending out live tweets. Those tweets will provide real time updates. Each tweet will contain either “#WillametteFleet” or “#ColumbiaFleet.” Those tweets can be seen on the Christmas Ship home page or directly from the Twitter feed.
This Loch Ness Monster/Green Dragon breathes real fire!
The fleet is much like the post office, members forge ahead through rain, snow, and of course, dark of night. Organizers say, “The increase contact we see through the web page here, as well as through our Facebook page and Twitter feed, further cement the incredible interest shown for this event. Christmas Ships Parade fans not only show up to visit us in all sorts of weather, but they’re actively involved in communicating with the leadership, sharing pictures and videos, making donations, and offering suggestions. You support is invaluable, and we thank you for all you do for us.” (Below is the schedule for both the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.)
Here’s a preview of some of the floating festivities on display this year. There are some new boats this year!
Yes, that’s the infamous leg lamp from the holiday film, “A Christmas Story” where Ralphie has to convince his parents that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect gift.
The combined Willamette and Columbia fleets will depart from Coon Island at 4:30pm and arrive in the Scappoose area at approximately 5:00pm. They will travel up the Multnomah Channel to the Fred’s Marina area. This is a long run with the ships arriving at Fred’s Marina at approximately 8:30pm. From there, the fleet will disperse to their respective moorages.
Tuesday, Dec. 15th – OMSI to Fremont Bridge – 7:00PM
At 7:00PM, the Willamette Fleet assembles in front of Riverplace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland). The parade will begin in the OMSI/Riverplace area before heading upstream to the Spaghetti Factory then head downriver to the area of the Fremont Bridge The fleet will go under the bridge and then return to Riverplace Marina. The fleet will be out for about two hours.
The Willamette Fleet assembles in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland) at 7:00PM and travels upriver to the area of the Milwaukie Boat Ramp. The fleet will arrive about 7:45PM and about 8:15P the fleet turns downriver and returns to RiverPlace Marina. On the nights that Oregon Yacht Club is listed, the fleet will go in below Oaks Park and in front of the floating homes on the way back to RiverPlace.
Thursday, Dec. 17th – OMSI to Fremont Bridge – 7:00PM
At 7:00PM, the Willamette Fleet assembles in front of Riverplace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland). The parade will begin in the OMSI/Riverplace area before heading upstream to the Spaghetti Factory then head downriver to the area of the Fremont Bridge The fleet will go under the bridge and then return to Riverplace Marina. The fleet will be out for about two hours.
Friday, Dec. 18th – Milwaukie, Oregon Yacht Club – 7:00PM
The Willamette Fleet assembles in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland) at 7:00PM and travels upriver to the area of the Milwaukie Boat Ramp. The fleet will arrive about 7:45PM and about 8:15P the fleet turns downriver and returns to RiverPlace Marina. On the nights that Oregon Yacht Club is listed, the fleet will go in below Oaks Park and in front of the floating homes on the way back to RiverPlace.
From 3 – 5:30pm, there will be a “Meet & Greet” with the Christmas Ships captains at Riverplace Marina (downtown Portland). Come say hello, take a look at the boats up close, or take some pictures with us. Santa will be there! At 5:30PM, both fleets will leave RiverPlace Marina headed to Lake Oswego, arriving about 6:45P – 7:00, subject to weather and river conditions. The ships will go as far as George Rogers Park and turn back to Portland.
At 5:00PM, the Willamette and Columbia Fleets assemble in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland). The parade will begin in the OMSI/Riverplace area and proceed upstream to the Spaghetti Factory before heading downriver to St. John’s arriving at approximately 6:30 PM and remain in the area for about 30 minutes. The parade will then continue on to the Columbia River and each boat owners home port. The arrival times are dependent upon bridge openings that are beyond the control of the Christmas Ships. Please check our Twitter feed for updates to our time and location.
The combined Willamette and Columbia fleets will depart from Coon Island at 4:30pm and arrive in the Scappoose area at approximately 5:00pm. They will travel up the Multnomah Channel to the Fred’s Marina area. This is a long run with the ships arriving at Fred’s Marina at approximately 8:30pm. From there, the fleet will disperse to their respective moorages.
Tuesday, Dec. 15th – I-5 Bridge area / Hayden Bay – 7:00PM
At 7:00PM, the Columbia Fleet assembles in front of James M. Gleason Boat Ramp, 43rd/NE Marine Drive and turns at the east end of the parking lot to head downriver to the I-5 Bridge Area including Grandma’s Cove, arriving at approximately 7:30 PM at Beaches, and Hayden Bay approximately 8:45 PM.
Wednesday, Dec. 16th – James Gleason Boat Ramp/WA Shores/Wintler Park/I-5 Bridge area – 7:00PM
At 7:00PM, the Columbia Fleet assembles in front of James M. Gleason Boat Ramp, 43rd/NE Marine Drive and remains for about the first half hour, then heads across the river to the Washington Shoreline until about 8pm. Then heads downriver to the I-5 Bridge Area, arriving at approximately 8:15 PM.
Thursday, Dec. 17th – I-5 Bridge area / Hayden Bay – 7:00PM
At 7:00PM, the Columbia Fleet assembles in front of James M. Gleason Boat Ramp, 43rd/NE Marine Drive and turns at the east end of the parking lot to head downriver to the I-5 Bridge Area including Grandma’s Cove, arriving at approximately 7:30 PM at Beaches, and Hayden Bay approximately 8:45 PM.
Friday, Dec. 18th – North Portland Harbor – 7:00PM
At 7:00PM, the fleet will assemble in the area of the James. M Gleason boat ramp, (NE 43rd/Marine Dr), and then head downriver to North Portland Harbor. North Portland Harbor is located on the Oregon side of Hayden Island.
From 3 – 5:30pm, there will be a “Meet & Greet” with the Christmas Ships captains at Riverplace Marina (downtown Portland). Come say hello, take a look at the boats up close, or take some pictures with us. Santa will be there! At 5:30PM, both fleets will leave RiverPlace Marina headed to Lake Oswego, arriving about 6:45P – 7:00, subject to weather and river conditions. The ships will go as far as George Rogers Park and turn back to Portland.
At 5:00PM, the Willamette and Columbia Fleets assemble in front of RiverPlace Marina, (1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland). The parade will begin in the OMSI/Riverplace area and proceed upstream to the Spaghetti Factory before heading downriver to St. John’s arriving at approximately 6:30 PM and remain in the area for about 30 minutes. The parade will then continue on to the Columbia River and each boat owners home port. The arrival times are dependent upon bridge openings that are beyond the control of the Christmas Ships. Please check our Twitter feed for updates to our time and location.
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