Happy December! No one can deny it’s holiday season in Portland with Christmas trees being lit, holiday lights installed throughout the city and in every Portland neighborhood, holiday markets popping up, and inviting you to shop local to support your favorite small businesses.

The remaining days of the year are truly magical, even though Portland’s winter weather isn’t always the nicest. But these holiday events will for sure brighten up your days and evenings.

Ever wondered what’s the (un)official start into Portland’s holiday season? Keep on reading to find out! Spoiler, it’s not the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Holiday Lights to admire for free

Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Pioneer Courthouse Square

Traditionally the Holiday Season in Portland is kicked off with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Downtown Portland.

While the tree arrives beginning of November, the lighting ceremony with a joyful sing-along of Christmas songs takes place at 6 pm on November 25^th, 2022, the Day after Thanksgiving.

If you’ve missed the event or don’t fancy the crowds during the ceremony, you can visit the Christmas Tree throughout the holiday season and admire more than 14,000 colorful LED lights illuminating the 75ft Douglas-fir.

• Where: Pioneer Courthouse Square (701 SW 6th Ave, Downtown)
• When: Friday, November 25, 2022, 6 pm
• Admission / Tickets: free

Light Up St. Johns Tree Lighting

In case the holiday season starts even earlier for you and you don’t want to wait for the traditional Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Pioneer Courthouse Square, St. John’s neighborhood in North Portland lights their tree a week earlier already. This fun event combines the traditional tree lighting and choir singing with ugly sweater celebrations, hot Chocolate, and cookies.

• Where: St. Johns Plaza, N. Philadelphia and Lombard, St. John’s neighborhood, Portland
• When: Friday, November 18, 2022, 5-7 pm
• Admission / Tickets: free

Peacock Lane

It’s back officially: One of the most Portlandia-style holiday lights events in the quaint southeast neighborhood of Belmont. Known as Portland’s Christmas Street, Peacock Lane is well known for the resident’s extensive holiday light decorations since 1929. Each and every house in Peacock Lane is built in English Cottage or Tudor Revival. Adding an extra vibe to the lit facades and yards for decades.

Every year in December the street is open to the public to “visit”. While the public walk- and drive-though options were suspended in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic, Peacock Lane is back to full light and celebration in December 2022. The hot cocoa booth will be back as well as car-free nights on December 15, 16, and 17, where only pedestrians are allowed.

• Where: SE Peacock Lane, Belmont, SE Portland
• When: December 15 – 31, 2022
• Admission / Tickets: free

Red Nose lights up Portland Sign

Another Portland tradition that can be admired for free and can simply be declared as #KeepPortlandWeird is when the red nose on the White Stag/ Portland, Oregon sign is lit up manually the Day before Thanksgiving. Red Nose Day is a Portland tradition since 1959. In 2010, the city of Portland took over ownership of the sign and the costs for its maintenance. Back then also the lettering was changed to “Portland, Oregon”.

Even though the letters on the sign have changed over the decades, the Rudolph nose tradition keeps on going, the deer remains and his red nose is lit every year the day before Thanksgiving, officially kicking off the holiday season in Old Town.

More details about the actual love story behind the glowing red nose:

• Where: White Stag Building, west side of Burnside Bridge, Old Town Portland
• When: Wednesday, November 23, 2022
• Admission / Tickets: free

Christmas Ship Parade

Portland’s Christmas Ships is another free holiday lights tradition that has been going strong since 1954. The parade of 55 to 60 decorated privately-owned boats coming from Portland, Vancouver, McMinnville, Salem, and Hood River areas can be viewed on 15 nights in December from the banks of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. View the parade’s schedule here:

• Columbia River Schedule
• Willamette River Schedule

• Where: Willamette & Columbia Rivers
• When: December 2 – 21, 2022, with days and times vary
• Admission / Tickets: free

Holiday light events that require tickets & reservation

Zoo Lights & Brew Lights

1.5 million animal-themed lights turn the Oregon Zoo into a spectacular light show that can be explored by foot or by car. The traditional walk-through Zoo Lights experience is back since 2021, while the drive-through experience that was implemented in 2020 to address COVID-19 concerns, will also be available for a few nights. And for 2 nights Zoo Lights turns into Brew Lights, for 21+ only.

As Zoo Lights is all about lights, no zoo animals are viewable during Zoo Lights. Therefore, local food carts, hot cocoa, Oregon beer, and wine are available.

Make sure to check the schedule of Zoo Lights as you need to purchase a ticket in advance online. All tickets are timed-entry. For tickets and schedule Oregon Zoo’s website.

• Where: Oregon Zoo,4001 SW Canyon Rd, Washington Park
• When: November 23, 2022 – January 5, 2023, except Christmas Day December 25, 2022
• Admission / Tickets: $21 – $29 for walk-through tickets / $65 for drive-through tickets

Christmas Festival of Lights, The Grotto

The Christmas Festival of Lights in Portland’s Grotto is supposed to be the largest Christmas choral festival in the world. Nearly 160 indoor holiday concerts are performed by many of the region’s finest schools, churches, and civic choirs. The Grotto’s 600-seat chapel is known for its cathedral-quality acoustics and makes this a special holiday experience.

Even though you are not attending one of the indoor concerts, The Grotto is worth visiting through the holiday season because of its colorful lights, outdoor caroling, puppet shows, and an assortment of musical guests.  

• Where: The Grotto, 8840 NE Skidmore Street, Northeast Portland
• When: November 25 – December 30, 2022, except Christmas Day
• Admission / Tickets: $6 – $14

Winter Wonderland of Lights

Not only known as the largest light show in the Northwest but advertised as the “Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi” this holiday lights tradition is a family’s favorite since 1993.

Very American-style the Winter Wonderland of Lights is a drive-through light show where visitors can view over 250 colorful light set pieces as well as fully animated scenes from the comfort of their own vehicle. Ticket prices vary depending on the time and size of your vehicle. There is a “Bike the Lights Night” (bike-only) and “Lights & Leashes Night” (walk-only) each year. Check their website for special nights.

• Where: Portland International Raceway, 1940 N. Victory Blvd., North Portland
• When: November 25 – December 31, 2022
• Admission / Tickets: $37 – $48 per single car

Holiday Markets to support local small businesses

Snow Day by Mike Bennet Art

The latest project of PDX local and famous artist Mike Bennett is looking a lot like Christmas. Think wrapping paper, gift bags, tree ornaments, yard decor, and Merch – everything of course in Mike Bennett drawing-style – brought together in a pop-up store in Downtown Portland.

Then you have an idea of what “Snow Day” is about: A unique holiday shopping experience for kids, parents, Mike Bennett fans, Portland locals, and visitors. With your purchase, you are supporting local artists like Mike Bennet himself.

• Where: ACE Hotel, 403 SW 10^th Ave, Downtown Portland
• When: November 25 – December 31, 2022
• Admission / Tickets: free

Unique Markets Portland

If shopping local and supporting small businesses is what you are looking for this holiday season by getting your holiday gift shopping done in one day and under one roof, Unique Markets Portland is your place! 160 of Portland’s best independent brands & artists are joining this year’s holiday edition of Unique Markets.

The format was established with annual markets in Los Angeles, Portland, and Washington DC. Here is where you find jewelry, candles, clothes, beauty products, booze, and much more made by mostly women and BIPOC sellers.

• Where: Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 300 N Ramsay Wy, Lloyd District
• When: Saturday & Sunday, December 3 & 4, 2022 | 10 am-4 pm (Seasonal markets take place every May, August, and December)
• Admission / Tickets: $10 – $40 (general admission & VIP admission)

More markets to shop for holiday gifts:

• Portland Saturday Market, Tom McCall Waterfront Park, every Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, free
• Portland Night Market, 100 SE Alder Street, December 1 – 4, 2022, free

Rent a Potted Christmas Tree

While there are many opportunities to cut your own Christmas tree in the woods or visit a tree farm to select your pre-cut tree, the Original Potted Tree is the most sustainable way to bring the Christmas Tree tradition to life in your own house. Only in Portland and Eugene, Oregon you can rent a potted Christmas tree that will get delivered to your doorstep, picked up, and planted to grow old.

It’s a bit pricier than the standard version. But potted trees have higher costs of digging, delivery, and pickup, and this way you make a positive impact without sacrificing an actual Christmas tree.

• Where: Portland + Eugene
• When: Order here: https://pottedchristmastrees.org
• Costs: $199

Holiday Experiences / Events near Portland

Yesteryear Pumpkin Patch + Christmas Trees

As the name already indicates, Yesteryear Pumpkin Patch & Christmas Trees opens its doors in the fall already and turns from a pumpkin farm in October into a Christmas tree farm by mid-November. Think about it like a visit to a local farm, just in winter. Here you can shop for holiday decor, gifts, locally-made jams, jellies, and other goodies.

A vintage beverage trailer is serving up complimentary Hot Cocoa, Apple Cider, and Fresh Popcorn. And on the weekends, food trucks will satisfy your hunger. Check out their events page to see the upcoming schedule.

Even holiday characters like The Grinch, Santa Claus, and Frosty the Snowman will be making an appearance! If you are looking for a Christmas farm with lots of fun and photo ops, Yesteryear is worth checking out.

• Where: 26801 SW Stafford Road, Wilsonville
• When: November 17 – December 22, 2022 (for trees), 9:30 am – 7 pm daily
• Admission / Tickets: free

Silverton Holiday Market

You don’t need to travel to Leavenworth, the Bavarian Town in Washington State, to experience a German Christmas Market. Only 1 hour South of Portland, The Oregon Garden hosts a magical market filled with little stalls full of gifts from artisan vendors and imported German nutcrackers, smokers, and ornaments. Even Santa stops by. No traditional German market in Oregon without a beer garden and local brews, even though Biergarten and Christmas Market are 2 different things in Germany. 😉  

• Where: The Oregon Garden, 879 W Main Street, Silverton
• When: November 25, 2022 – January 1, 2023, 5 pm – 9 pm
• Admission / Tickets: $15 – $18, depending on the day of the week

Mt. Hood Christmas Train, Hood River

Ever dreamed of riding a Christmas Train? In Hood River, this dream might come true. Departing from Hood River, the Mt. Hood Christmas Train departs takes its passengers on an 80-minutes trip to the “Christmas Depot”. Christmas characters are riding along, and hot chocolate and cookies are served.

• Where: Mt Hood Depot, 110 Railroad St, Hood River
• When: November 18 – December 28, 2022
• Admission / Tickets: $59 (adult) / $49 (kids)

More Christmas Trains:

• Holiday Express, Oaks Amusement Park Portland, Run by the Oregon Rail Heritage Center (45 minutes ride)
• Candy Cane Express, run by the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. 1-hour train ride between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach
• Sumpter Valley Christmas Trains, run by Sumpter Valley Railroad in Eastern Oregon

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QUESTIONS & COMMENTS?

Have you been to Portland, Oregon during the holiday season? What did you like best? Do you like the article, have suggestions, feedback, or questions? Leave me a comment and feel free to share this article with your friends!

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