Steve Shay
Despite the record cold, a crowd of a couple hundred huddled around Seacrest Marina to watch, and listen, to the caroling Christmas boats.

Christmas ships ahoy

By Steve Shay
12/12/2009

A tradition that West Seattleites look forward to every holiday season has arrived, the Christmas Ships. It's put on by Argosy Cruises. Pictured, onlookers converged at Seacrest Park at 5:15pm Saturday , Dec. 12, to watch the boats despite the record-low temperatures.

If you own your own boat, Argosy suggests that you are welcome to add lights to your vessel and join in the festival. The Argosy Christmas Ship™ festival is a holiday celebration that has been a Northwest tradition for 60 years. Its main purpose is to bring communities together to celebrate the holiday season.

Choirs onboard sing 20-minute performances, all broadcast via state-of-the-art speaker system.

On shore, hundreds of people gather around roaring bonfires anticipating the arrival of the Christmas Ship™.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12
CHOIR: Northwest Girlchoir - Vivace
5:15-5:35 Seacrest Marina*
CHOIR: Canterbury Belles
8:50-9:10 Lowman Beach*,
9:40-10:00 Alki Beach*

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13
CHOIR: Soundwave
7:10-7:30 Don Armeni*

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