Get your fuzzy socks and hot cocoa ready, Portland. From light displays to holiday performances and festive parties, the Rose City is in full bloom this winter.
Gather your family and friends and celebrate what makes the holiday season special with this guide featuring 36 winter events happening between December and February.
Bundle up for a nocturnal stroll at The Grotto’s Festival of Lights.
Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday
Winter festivals
Christmas Festival of Lights | Friday, Nov. 24-Saturday, Dec. 30 (closed on Christmas) | 5-10 p.m., Nov. 24-Dec. 15; 4:45-10 p.m., Dec. 16-Dec. 30 | The Grotto, 8840 NE Skidmore St. | $0-$18 | The peaceful wooded sanctuary transforms into a glowing winter wonderland with lights, outdoor carolers, and dozens of chorale performances inside the Chapel of Mary with its cathedral-like acoustics.
Silver Falls Winter Festival | Dec. 9-Dec. 10 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | South Falls Day Use Area and Smith Creek Village at Silver Falls State Park, Silverton | Free (day-use parking permit is required) | Make a wreath, build a bird nest box, join an educational walk, learn about waterfalls, decorate a cookie, and earn a commemorative Silver Falls ornament.
Portland Winter Light Festival | Friday, Feb. 2-Saturday, Feb. 10 | Times vary | Locations across the metro area | Free | Illuminated sculptures, video projections, pop-up performances, food carts, and more turn the City of Roses into a magical electric wonderland.
Volksfest | Friday, Feb. 2-Sunday, Feb. 4 | Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Mt. Angel Community Festhalle, 500 Wilco Hwy. NE, Mt. Angel | $0-$10 | This celebration of German sausage will feature live music, local beer and wine, craft vendors, balloon art, and more.
Holiday events
A Pittock Mansion Christmas: Winter Wonderland | Sunday, Nov. 19-Thursday, Jan. 4 | Wednesday-Monday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Tuesday, 12-4 p.m. | Pittock Mansion, 3229 NW Pittock Dr. | $0-$16.50 | Volunteers have brought the magic of the season indoors, decorating the mansion’s rooms to showcase snow angles, ice skating, elves, snowmen, hot chocolate, and more.
Mt. Hood Railroad Holiday Train | Friday, Nov. 24-Wednesday, Dec. 27 | Times vary | Mt. Hood Railroad, 110 Railroad St., Hood River | $54-$89 | Get into the holiday spirit with a charming train ride.
Omiyage Holiday Store | Friday, Nov. 24-Saturday, Dec. 23 | Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Japanese American Museum of Oregon, 411 NW Flanders St., Ste. 100 | Free | This holiday pop-up shop features unique Japanese-inspired gifts and crafts by local artists, designers, and authors.
The Holiday Express | Friday, Nov. 24-Sunday, Dec. 17 | Times vary | Oregon Rail Heritage Center, 2250 SE Water Ave. | $25-$99 | Join Santa and his elves for a magical ride along the Willamette River in vintage rail cars pulled by a historic steam locomotive.
Portland Night Market | Thursday, Nov. 30-Sunday, Dec. 3 | Thursday (VIP Night), 6-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 4-11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | 100 SE Alder St. | $0-$30 | Peruse 150+ of Portland’s best food, culture, music, drinks, and retail vendors.
Providence Festival of Trees Elf Academy | Friday, Dec. 1 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | $0-$10 | People of all ages and abilities will find inclusive holiday fun with a scavenger hunt, a silent auction, a LEGO train display, photos with Santa, and more.
Christmas Ship Dinner | Dec. 4-Dec. 17 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Portland Spirit Salmon Springs Dock, 1010 SW Naito Pkwy. | $98-$126 | All aboard for a cruise on the Willamette River with a three-course dinner, live piano music, and a front-row seat to the Christmas Ships Parade.
The North Pole at Eagle Crest | Friday, Dec. 8-Friday, Dec. 22 | 5-9 p.m. | 31727 NE Wilsonville Rd., Newberg | Free | Visit the holiday display to see elves hard at work in their workshop, sip hot chocolate, and write a letter to Santa — donations benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Unique Markets: Portland Holiday 2023 Market | Saturday, Dec. 9-Sunday, Dec. 10 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 300 N. Ramsay Way | $10-$40 | Get your shopping done early and discover 135 emerging brands and designers, plus free gift wrapping, photo booths, and drinks.
Laurelhurst Winter Bazaar | Sunday, Dec. 3 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Laurelhurst School, 840 NE 41st Ave. | Free | Local craft vendors will sell their creations to support Laurelhurst School.
Crafty Wonderland Holiday Art + Craft Market | Friday, Dec. 8-Sunday, Dec. 10 | Friday, 5-9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | $4-$25 | Shop from over 250 booths of handmade goods, with everything from cross-stitch kits to greeting cards.
The 30th annual Champagne Ball will feature Hit Machine, DJ Doc Rock, DJ Eric Wright, and local camelid celebrities.
Photo by @phanphotographypdx via @champagneballpdx
NYE celebrations
Champagne Ball | Sunday, Dec. 31 | 8 p.m.-1 a.m. | Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave. | $119-$229 | Ring in the new year with a ball drop, champagne toast, hors d’oeuvres, dancing, and more.
Together New Year’s Eve | Sunday, Dec. 31 | 9 p.m.-3 a.m. | The Den, 116 SE Yamhill St. | $20-$35 | Three stages + 12 DJs = one epic conclusion to 2023.
New Year’s Eve on the Boardwalk Cruise | Sunday, Dec. 31 | 9 p.m.-1 a.m. | Portland Spirit Salmon Springs Dock, 1010 SW Naito Pkwy. | $135-$269 | Watch 2022 slip out with the tide during this Prohibition-style party on the Portland Spirit yacht.
Some say Peacock Lane’s Christmas tradition dates back to the mid-1920s.
Photo by Visitor7
Light displays
Zoo Lights | Sunday, Nov. 19-Sunday, Jan. 7 | Times vary | Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Rd. | $20-$21 | Walk or drive through dazzling light displays showcasing the world’s dazzling flora and fauna.
Winter Wonderland | Friday, Nov. 24-Sunday, Dec. 31 | Monday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 4:30-11 p.m. | Portland International Raceway, 1940 N. Victory Blvd. | $48-$155 | Drive through the “largest light show west of the Mississippi” and support the Sunshine Division‘s year-round hunger relief efforts.
Christmas Ships Parade | Friday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 17 | Times vary | Various locations on the Columbia and Willamette rivers | Free | Brightly lit, colorful flotillas will set sail for the 69th year, drawing thousands of onlookers to the river banks.
Peacock Lane | Friday, Dec. 15-Sunday, Dec. 31 | 6-11 p.m. | Southeast Peacock Lane | Free | “Portland’s Christmas Street” returns with a cocoa booth, pedestrian-only nights, and four residential blocks of homes decked out in holiday lights.
The 2024 Holiday Brass performance takes place Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m., at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday
Winter performances
“Black Nativity” | Wednesday, Nov. 22-Sunday, Dec. 10 | Times vary | Brunish Theatre at Portland'5 Centers for the Arts, 1111 SW Broadway | $22.25-$40 | Scripture, poetry, dance, and song come together to tell the Nativity story from an African American perspective.
Portland’s Singing Christmas Tree | Saturday, Nov. 25-Sunday, Dec. 3 | Times vary | Sunset Church, 14986 NW Cornell Rd. | $27-$47 | The annual tradition returns for a 61st year with a 90-minute show featuring an immersive nativity, a special visit from Santa, music, dancing, and pageantry.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” | Saturday, Nov. 25-Sunday, Dec. 31 | Times vary | Northwest Children’s Theater, 1000 SW Broadway T-100 | $0-$35 | Witness Rudolph’s journey to save Christmas in this live musical adaptation of the classic stop-motion animated film.
“It’s A Wonderful Life” | Friday, Dec. 1-Saturday, Dec. 23 | Times vary | Winningstad Theatre at Portland'5 Centers for the Arts, 1111 SW Broadway | $35+ | See the award-winning musical adaptation of Frank Capra’s classic film about a frustrated businessman who meets an angel.
Handel’s “Messiah” | Saturday, Dec. 2-Monday, Dec. 4 | Times vary | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway | $25-$132 | Experience all three hours of one of the most-performed works in music history.
George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” | Friday, Dec. 8-Sunday, Dec. 24 | Times vary | Keller Auditorium | $29-$156 | The Oregon Ballet Theatre will carry you away to a land of toy soldiers, dancing snowflakes, and sugarplum fairies set to Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score.
“Make the Yuletide Gay” | Friday, Dec. 8-Sunday, Dec. 10 | Times vary | Newmark Theatre at Portland'5 Centers for the Arts, 1111 SW Broadway | $20-$56 | The Portland Gay Men’s Chorus will once again put on “the gayest holiday concert of all time” inspired by classic variety and sketch shows.
Gospel Christmas | Saturday, Dec. 9-Sunday, Dec. 10 | Times vary | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway | $25-$117 | The Oregon Symphony and the region’s top gospel singers will lift their music and their voices to add joy to the season at this 24th annual concert.
A Very Merry Mariachi Christmas Concert with Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández | Monday, Dec. 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway | $20-$75 | This musical tribute to Mexico’s Christmas traditions will feature classical, pop, jazz, swing, and show tunes.
TUBACHRISTMAS | Saturday, Dec. 16| 1:30 p.m. | Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW Sixth Ave. | Free | Celebrate the lowest-pitched musical instrument in the brass family by spectating or adding your skills to the concert.
New Year’s Concert in Portland – “Beethoven’s Ninth” | Saturday, Dec. 30-Sunday, Dec. 31 | 7:30 p.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway | $25-$117 | Say farewell to the past 12 months and look boldly ahead with this triumphant musical masterpiece featuring the famous “Ode to Joy” chorus.
Disney’s “The Lion King” | Sunday, Jan. 7-Sunday, Jan. 28 | Times vary | Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St. | $34.75-$149.75 | This awe-inspiring musical will show you a new perspective on the circle of life.
Michael Flatley’s “Lord of the Dance” - 25th Anniversary Tour | Tuesday, Feb. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway | $39.75-$99.75 | Experience a combination of high-paced Irish dancing, original music, and storytelling that’s attracted 60 million people over the past 25 years.
Biamp Portland Jazz Festival | Friday, Feb. 16-Saturday, March 2 | Times vary | Locations vary | Prices vary | Over 75 jazz events will take place for the festival’s 21st anniversary.
