Featured image: Boats from a previous Festival of Lighted Boats on the Columbia River in Kalama, Washington (photo credit: Festival of Lighted Boats on the Columbia River)

Come to the Kalama Marina Park to watch the Festival of Lighted Boats on the Columbia River on Saturday, December 8. Get a photo taken with Santa, and enjoy live entertainment, caroling, and holiday treats. Sip a brew at the McMenamins beer garden.

The event tent opens at 5 p.m., and the boat parade starts at 6 p.m. Admission and parking are free, but parking near the marina is limited and fills quickly. The best option is to park at the shuttle lot near the intersection of Port Road and North Hendrickson Drive and ride one of the free shuttles (school busses) 1.5 miles to Kalama Marina Park.

The easiest access to the shuttle lot is from the south. To get there:

• From I-5 North or South, take Exit 27 to Todd Road/Port of Kalama.
• At the end of the ramp, turn left if you exited from I-5 North or right if you exited from I-5 South.
• At the next intersection, turn right onto Dupont Road. The shuttle lot is about a quarter mile away on the left. Traffic directors will guide you to a parking spot.

For updates, visit the Festival of Lighted Boats on the Columbia River’s Facebook page.

Kalama is on Interstate 5, 38 miles north of Portland, Oregon.