I saw three ships

Every December for the past 62 years, Argosy Cruises sails Christmas ships, adorned with lights and carrying choirs, on Puget Sound lakes. You can pay anywhere from $25 (to ride a parade boat that follows the boat carrying the carolers) to $99 (for the weekend caroling boat dinner cruise) to join in this tradition, or you can head to one of 45 stops to listen for free.

Last night, the inaugural night of the festival, the ship stopped at nearby Gas Works Park on Lake Union, so we bundled up and headed to the bonfires provided by the Seattle Parks & Rec department. It was about 40 degrees, so I really appreciated the heat source. Gas Works Park has a beautiful view of downtown Seattle -- including the iconic Space Needle which currently is topped with a Christmas tree. (It's worth going to Gas Works for the view alone!) Chris thought the caroling by the Con Brio Women’s Choir was a little too highbrow, but I notice on the schedule that most nights the carols are sung by the Dickens Choir so that might have more of the "drunk guys singing Christmas songs" sound he was hoping for. The Christmas ship is going to be at Gas Works again on the finale night, December 23, at 9:45 p.m. with the Seattle Girls’ Choir, so maybe we'll check it out again.