Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: 

Cinnamon Bear and his friends from Maybeland are back aboard the Portland Spirit for the 20th anniversary of their holiday cruises!

I just love this program because it's such a celebration of local tradition, and it's a wonderful activity that you, your kids, and the grandparents can enjoy together.

The whole family will enjoy reserved seating together and a hot plated breakfast, while the kids are captivated by storytelling, music, and magic throughout the two-hour cruise — with beautiful river views as the backdrop.

Check out this video for a preview!

• 2-hour cruise on the Willamette River
• Plated breakfast with fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, potatoes and more (vegan option available on request)
• Hot cocoa, orange juice, coffee, hot tea
• Character storytelling, autograph sessions, and magic show

Did you know that Cinnamon Bear dates back to 1937? It started as a 26-chapter holiday radio program series written by Glanville and Elizabeth Heisch. Each year, from Thanksgiving to Christmas, it became a ritual to listen to Cinnamon Bear on the radio and count down the days to Christmas. It was so popular that Cinnamon Bear took up residence at Lipman and Wolfe Stores, the radio program's sponsors, at Christmas time from the 1940s – 1980s, just like Santa Claus.

In fact, many children of Portland wrote their letters to Cinnamon Bear. The biggest prize in meeting the Cinnamon Bear in person was the cinnamon cookie. Portland Spirit loves continuing this local tradition, and they give a cinnamon cookie to each child on the cruise, continuing the tradition!