PORTLAND, Ore. — It won't be lit up for another couple weeks, but the annual Pioneer Courthouse Square Christmas tree is once again towering over the downtown Portland plaza. City officials and business leaders were on hand for a ceremony Wednesday afternoon as crews hauled the 75-foot tree in on a pair of flatbed trucks.
Mayor Ted Wheeler and other speakers outlined a series of holiday events on the way for the city, and Wheeler touted the schedule as evidence of the city's economic recovery.
"Portland has turned the corner on its recovery," he said. "Our streets are cleaner, our communities are safer, and foot traffic is way up in the central city, and that's not just for the holidays but year-round."
The Douglas Fir was donated by Stimson Lumber Company, which has supplied the tree for the past 22 years. The tree was grown near Gaston, according to a company representative, and it's about 35 years old with a base diameter of 17 inches, weighing in at about 7,500 pounds. The first truck carried the main trunk of the tree, while the second truck carried extra branches to help fill it out.
The first big event is the Tree Lighting Ceremony with a carol sing-along, coming up on Nov. 29. KGW will stream the event on KGW+, available for free on Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV.
Then, there's the return of My People's Market on Nov. 23 and 24, followed by the Christmas concert on Dec. 21 and the public Menorah Lighting on Dec. 25. Speakers also mentioned the Portland Holiday Brew Fest, the Portland Bazaar, the downtown Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition and the annual Tuba Concert.
The Portland Ice Rink is also slated to come back for the holiday season. Skaters can get admission discounts if they spend $20 at central city businesses or stay at participating hotels, according to Commissioner Carmen Rubio.
"This year's ice rink is bigger than ever," she said. "It opens this Saturday and will run throughout the holiday."