Celebrate the holidays with Portland’s fleet.

December 2019

By Sofia Voltin

A Casco Bay Lines ferry all decked out for the holidays.

America’s oldest maritime Christmas parade was founded in 1907 in California by an Italian gondolier. Our celebration was launched in 2001.

“We often take part in the Portland Harbor Parade of Lights,” says Matthew Moretti, CEO of Bangs Island Mussels on Commercial Street. “Last time, we used our workboat La Cozze. On the night of December 14, we’ll bring our bigger boat, Perseverance. I’m of Italian descent (as if you couldn’t tell), specifically southern Tuscany. My family just lost my grandfather, Fred Jr. Moretti, and we’re all feeling a renewed interest in our heritage.”

The Italian heritage community’s love for our working waterfront stretches back to the 1880s. “Families began coming up here either directly from Italy by boat or working their way north from New York or Boston. They gravitated to the area around Congress, Middle, Fore, Temple, Federal, and India Streets. Thus, Little Italy was created.” [See our story “Portland’s Little Italy,” by Paul Luise.]

“By operating our business on the working waterfront, we bring some of the most nutritious and sustainable food to our community and beyond,” Moretti says. And fresh seafood is a must for a traditional Italian Christmas. “Our family has at least one seafood dish at Christmas. I don’t recall ever doing the entire Feast of the Seven Fishes, but we always get partway there.” [See “The Ultimate Frutti di Mare,” December 2018]

DiMillo’s on the Water isn’t about to miss out on the dazzling celebration of twinkling lights right off their own decks. “We participate with our family lobster boat,” Steve DiMillo says. “Lobstar is a 38-foot Holland boat built in Belfast in 1989. It’s a classic style. We get together with staff from the marina and have a great time decorating it.”

“Our parade is filled with recreational boats, fishing boats, tugboats, and sometimes the Coast Guard,” says Chris Keane, founder of Portland Harbor Parade. “Hundreds of people watch from Maine State Pier. Last year we had a stellar turnout with 38 boats participating. You’ll see a lot of Santas out on the water. One year, a captain on one of the ferries decorated himself in Christmas lights, blared music, and danced at the top of his craft.”

The Portland Harbor Parade of Lights will be on December 14.