60-year Tri-Cities holiday tradition sets sail on Columbia River + Fireworks & tree lighting

Tri-Citians looking for a mega dose of holiday cheer have two cornerstone annual outdoor celebrations to choose from to kick off this year’s Christmas season.

The Clover Island Yacht Club’s Christmas Lighted Boat Parade starts at 6 p.m. tonight and and repeats again on Saturday, Dec. 7, from under the cable bridge at Clover Island in Kennewick.

Decorated boats will travel up the Columbia River along Columbia Park in Kennewick and at around 7:30 p.m. turn around at the far end of Howard Amon Park in Richland to retrace their route back to the marina.

Boats arrive back at Clover Island and make an additional loop for everyone on the island before heading back into the Clover Island Marina about 9 p.m.

Richland events

The 9th annual Winter Wonderland in Richland also begins Friday night at the John Dam Plaza and HAPO Community Stage. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m.

The official countdown to lighting up the park and stage is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. when thousands of lights will dance to holiday music.

There also will be a Lighted Vehicle Parade and guest appearances from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Other activities include:

• Taking a stroll through the Richland Alphabet Home Village and enjoy the small replicas of seven iconic floor plans and landmarks dating to the Manhattan Project at the Hanford site.
• A “Letters to the North Pole” mailbox will be available for children of all ages to mail their letters. Each participant that includes a return address will receive a response from Santa and his helpers. Deadline is Dec. 20.

There will be temporary road closures of Jadwin Avenue, Swift Boulevard, and George Washington Way to accommodate the parade.

In addition, Knight Street and the north end of the Parkway will be closed for the events with the Parkway parking lot opening back up at 8 p.m.

Food vendors will be on hand at the plaza. After the lighting ceremony, the holiday music will continue until 9 p.m.

A couple blocks away at Howard Amon Park more holiday activities are planned from 6-8:30 p.m.

An 8-minute fireworks show over the river is set for about 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, after the Lighted Boat Parade passes by.

The J&S Express Train will be at the Richland Community Center to take riders on a journey through the park.

Food vendors will also be available, the Gallery at the Park will have cocoa and hosting crafts from 6-8 p.m., and Tri-City Choral Fusion will perform from 5:30-7 p.m.

The Richland Community Center will have holiday movies, crafts, bingo and free cocoa and popcorn (while supplies last) from 5-8:30 p.m.

The festivities continue Saturday at John Dam Plaza from 5:30-9 p.m.

Thrive Performing Arts Tri-Cities will perform Frozen from 5:15-6:30 p.m., followed by games and a costume contest at the community center. Music Together Tri-Cities plans a holiday sing-along from 6:30-7 p.m.

Lee Boulevard will be closed to vehicles, from Amon Park Drive to Lee Landing, during the celebrations on Friday and Saturday.

The dancing lights can be seen every night until Jan. 1 from 5-9 p.m.

Downtown Kennewick

Downtown Kennewick’s Hometown Holiday Parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday with music, holiday-theme floats and more.

After the parade winds through downtown, other festivities will include photos with Santa, mini horses, free hot cocoa and letters to Santa.

Some streets will be blocked but are expected to be back to normal by 1 p.m.

This story was originally published December 6, 2024 at 10:49 AM.