PORTLAND, Ore. — Well, here we are: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. The Portland Christmas tree is lit, and The Benson Portland will be unveiling its annual gingerbread display — things are looking jolly. This weekend, you've got a tree lighting, the Portland Mercury's annual Holiday Drink Week, and more.
When: Nov. 29
Where: Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 Southwest 6th Avenue, Portland
What's going on: Portland's Christmas tree at Pioneer Courthouse Square will be lit on Friday in an annual celebration that is returning to in person this year. It's a sign the holidays are officially here. The annual event will feature a joyful sing-along with Portland's own Thomas Lauderdale, China Forbes, Pink Martini and plenty of other local musicians and singers. KGW will be live streaming the whole celebration.
You can watch it on all our digital platforms, including our YouTube channel and KGW+, our free Roku and FireTV app. The tree lighting will also air live at 5:30 p.m. Friday night.
When: Dec. 2-8, various times
Where: Multiple locations in the Portland metro area
What's going on: The Portland Mercury's Holiday Drink Week, bringing you holiday-themed drinks for the low. This is the perfect time to explore local, participating bars and restaurants you've been eyeing while sipping delicious boozy concoctions — but please drink responsibly.
For more information about the event, click here.
When: Dec. 3, 6 p.m.
Where: The Benson Portland, 309 Southwest Broadway, Portland
What's going on: The Benson Portland is taking "decking the halls" to the next level with their annual gingerbread installation. Chef David Diffendorfer will be working artistic wonders utilizing over 150 pounds of house-made gingerbread, 50 pounds of marzipan, 20 pounds of chocolate, 10 pounds of Rice Krispies treats, and buckets of royal icing to craft a breathtaking gingerbread creation. It will be on display for the public to see. This is the perfect holiday thing to do with the kids; just don't make sure they don't take a bite of the giant cookie.
For more information about the event, click here.
When: Nov. 22 - Jan. 5, 2025, various times
Where: The Oregon Zoo, 4001 Canyon Road, Portland
What's going on: Chief among holiday festivities are the lights at the Oregon Zoo. The Oregon ZooLights are a big deal every year, drawing massive crowds, and this year is expected to be no different. The display will be dazzling and is estimated to have more than 1.5 million individual lights.
You can experience this year's lights on foot. The traditional walking tour will give visitors the opportunity to see some of the various lights still on display through the winter months. The driving tour — a COVID-19 innovation that was once available on select dates and featured the animals — will no longer be an option this year. Tickets for the walking tour can range from $9 to $24, depending on the date and tour time.
The Oregon ZooLights are open seven days a week until Jan. 5, with the exception of a few dates and Christmas Day.
For more information on this event and ticket costs, click here.
When: Dec. 5 - 20, various times and dates
Where: Multiple locations across the Portland metro area
What's going on: Another great opportunity to see holiday lights can be found on the Willamette and Columbia rivers, where the Christmas Ship Parade is back this year for its 70th season. The fleet will sail up and down the river, showing off their colors on select nights through Dec. 20. Popular viewing locations include the North Portland Harbor, McCuddy's Steamboat Landing, the Vancouver waterfront and Hayden Bay. A full list of locations, dates and times are available on the Christmas Ships' website.
The Christmas Ship Parade started in 1954 with one sailboat decked out in red-and-green ribbon. The parade now attracts an average of 60 boats between the club's Columbia and Willamette river fleets.
Each boater designs and illuminates their individual boat, giving the parade character and diversity. For those boaters interested in joining, the Christmas Ship Parade is always looking for new members. For more information, take a look at their New Skippers Guide.
For more information on this event and ticket costs, click here.
When: Throughout the end of Nov. into the month of Dec.
Where: Multiple locations across the Portland metro area
What's going on: This holiday season is all about the lights — the Christmas lights. Thankfully, there are five excellent holiday light displays all opening soon in and around the Portland metro area: Oregon ZooLights, Christmas Ships Parade, Peacock Lane, The Grotto Festival of Lights and Winter Wonderland.
For more information about the event, click here.
When: Nov. 29 - Dec. 30, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Where: The Grotto, 8840 North Skidmore Street, Portland
What's going on: For the more religious holiday observer, the lights at Portland's Grotto are the place to be. A place of serenity and tranquility throughout the year, The Grotto hosts its Festival of Lights starting Nov. 29. The festival is open 5-9:30 p.m. Nov. 29 through Dec. 21-23 from 4:45-9:30 p.m. and will be closed on Christmas Day.
Tickets for the event are on sale now on the Grotto's website. They're $16.50 when purchased in advance and $18 at the gate. Youth tickets are $7.75 online and $8 at the door. Kids under 2 can get in for free, capacity permitting. There are value nights offered Dec. 2-5 and Dec. 9-12. Attendees are also asked to bring a non-perishable food item for SnowCap.
This year's festival will feature lights, caroling, puppet shows and music. The festival is a walk-through event, so expect to walk about a quarter mile. It takes on average an hour-and-a-half to see the whole thing.
For more information on this event and ticket cost, click here.
When: Nov. 21 - Dec. 31, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Oregon Garden Resort, 895 West Main Street, Silverton
What's going on: The Silverton Christmas Market at the Oregon Garden Resort will keep its holiday lights on through Dec. 31. The annual event first opened for the season the weekend after Thanksgiving, and the only nights it won't be open are Christmas Eve and Christmas. This year's event has more than one million lights set up along pathways that wind through the resort's property. The Silverton Christmas Market also features shopping opportunities, with handmade gifts from artisan vendors. There will also be a "snowless" tubing hill that attendees can check out. Tickets to the event are not available at the door. All admission tickets, along with tickets to ride down the snowless tubing hill, must be purchased online in advance on Silverton Christmas Market's website. Food and drink vendor booths are also cashless, so visitors are encouraged to bring a debit or credit card. Tickets range from $5 to $22.
For more information about the event, click here.