Portland and Area Activities Planner - December 13, 2024

HOLIDAY EXPRESS
Nov. 29, 2024–Jan. 4
Santa is putting away the sleigh and going by rail. The most highly anticipated event of the year is just around the corner — the beloved Holiday Express. This magical experience will whisk you away for a jolly journey aboard a decorated steam train. You’re invited to Santa’s Enginehouse, where sparkling decorations and scrumptious treats await.

Tickets often sell out, so it’s best to buy them early. 

This is a 45-minute round-trip train ride. Departure times vary per day

THE WINTER MARKET
Dec. 19–22
Returning for our second year at the Lloyd Center, the Portland Winter Market is back this December with over a hundred local vendors and artisans selling their wares for your last-minute shopping needs. This event is completely free to attend and supports small businesses from women-owned and BIPOC communities. 

PORTLAND BAZAAR
Nov. 29–Dec. 22
The Portland Bazaar is the city’s finest holiday gift showcase and sale. Started in 2011, their mission is to create an exciting event to highlight the skilled artists, makers and small businesses of Portland, Oregon.

When you shop small, you are putting your dollars directly back into the community by supporting someone’s small business, their family and helping fuel the local economy while doing so. With every purchase made at the Portland Bazaar, there is a very happy business owner who gets to sustain their passion after an extremely tough year.

SILVERTON CHRISTMAS MARKET
Nov. 21–Dec. 31
Join an awe-inspiring light display and market t at the Oregon Garden Resort  This annual event offers a joyous and magical holiday experience for all ages.

The event returns this winter with more lights than ever before, with 1.5 million lights, new and improved dazzling light displays, local artisan vendors, vendor booths dedicated to handmade German-imported goods like nutcrackers, and more.

GOSPEL CHRISTMAS
Dec. 14–15
Feel the spirit of the holiday season with the 25th annual performance of this beloved concert, featuring the region’s premier gospel singers alongside your Oregon Symphony. Experience the joy and uplift of gospel music, performed with passion and feeling by some of the finest musicians in the region. 

CHRISTMAS IN UKRAINE
Dec. 14–15
Get ready to immerse yourself in the enchanting melodies of Ukraine this holiday season. A world of tradition and celebration awaits, including music by the renowned Ukrainian composer Dmitro Bortniansky, the Palestrina of the Slavic World. The esteemed Dr. Marika Kuzma will guide you through charming traditional carols and captivating storytelling.

Dr. Kuzma stands as one of the foremost authorities on Ukrainian choral music, promising an authentic and unforgettable experience.

GEORGE BALLANCHINE'S THE NUTCRACKER
Dec. 7–24
The irresistible holiday tradition of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker returns to Portland’s Keller Auditorium

Join Marie and her Nutcracker Prince as the mischievous Drosselmeier sends them on a magical adventure. Brave toy soldiers battle villainous mice, candy canes leap and snowflakes whirl, all to Tchaikovsky’s wonderous score — and don’t forget about a Portland Holiday favorite, Mother Ginger.

OBT’s 2024 Portland Nutcracker Ballet features an increased number of performances with the OBT Orchestra.

WINTER GLEAM
Nov. 29–Dec. 29
Prepare for a holiday experience unlike any other in Portland. Oaks Amusement Park proudly announces Winter Gleam, the brand-new holiday light extravaganza, making its debut. This dazzling event transforms the beloved historic park into a sparkling wonderland every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening through December. Visitors of all ages are invited to experience the magic of the season at Winter Gleam, featuring an array of festive activities for the whole family.

At Winter Gleam, guests will step into a holiday fantasy world illuminated by dynamic light displays, immersive light tunnels, and twinkling pathways that will brighten the season. The event will offer delightful holiday-themed games, delicious seasonal food and treats, local vendors with unique holiday gifts, and even photo opportunities with Santa Claus himself.

YALDA NIGHT
Friday, Dec. 20
Join us for an evening of joy and tradition as we celebrate Yalda Night—the longest and darkest night of the year. This ancient Persian tradition is cherished today by people from Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kurdistan, and Dagestan.

Dance, music, poetry, storytelling, decorations, henna station, delicious Persian snacks, and a raffle.

    •    6:30 – 7:00 p.m.: Doors open
    •    7:00 – 9:00 p.m.: Performances, raffle, and storytelling
    •    9:00 – 10:00 p.m.: Open dance floor

CHRISTMAS SHIP PARADE
Dec. 5–22
Every year, Portland and Vancouver residents line the Columbia and Willamette rivers to watch a fleet of 55 to 60 festively decorated sailboats and yachts parade down the waterfront. These privately owned boats range from 14 to 65 feet (4 to 20 m) long and gather at different locations along the river featuring light displays and inflatable decor.

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Nov. 29–Dec. 30
Presenting the sights, sounds and sensations of the season, The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights is the largest Christmas choral festival in the world. The festival features nearly 160 indoor holiday concerts performed by many of the region’s finest school, church and civic choirs. Offering a family-oriented blend of traditional celebration and serene reflection, the festival theme reflects the special season of hope that Christmas offers many thousands of families around the Pacific Northwest.

THE GREAT FIGGY PUDDING CAROLING COMPETITION
Friday, Dec. 13
Pioneer Courthouse Square is excited to host the Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition — a fun, festive, and joyful competition bringing caroling groups to Portland’s Living Room and extending to a ten-block radius downtown.

The top three caroling groups will hold a “carol-off” at the Square hosted by KGW’s Drew Carney, and the grand prize winner will be selected by crowd applause and awarded $1,000. Second and third-place prizes and the coveted People’s Choice designation will also be awarded. 

NORSE FIRE - A CELEBRATION OF THE SOLSTICE
Dec. 13–22
The Midwinter Revels is steeped in traditions of song, dance, poetry and performance. Here are a few traditions you’ll see almost every year. A Midwinter Revels performance usually includes a mummer’s play. This comic and usually anachronistic enactment of death and rebirth finds its roots in European celebrations to mark important stages in the agricultural year. In the Midwinter Revels, the mummer’s play demonstrates the Midwinter Revel's central theme: the descent into darkness and the return of the light. In a mummer’s play, a hero usually fights a villain (traditionally a dragon), is killed, and then resurrected by magic. A Revels mummers play will often include a sword dance.

ZOOLIGHTS
Nov. 22,–Jan. 5
Dazzling new light displays, plus familiar favorites. This year promises to be the brightest ZooLights yet, with a brand-new magical meadow light show, dozens of life-size animal lanterns along the train route, and more interactive displays than ever. Walk through the famous tunnels of sparkling lights, pose next to colorful animals and make holiday memories to last all year.

TWELFTH NIGHT, OR AS YOU WILL
Nov 22-Dec 22
When Viola washes ashore, her twin brother Sebastian is lost at sea. Disguises, mistaken identities and unrequited love show them that shipwrecks may be the least of their problems. In one of  Shakespeare’s most enduring comedies, everything — love, mischief, music and libations — exists in exciting excess! 

CARSON GOLF & SPA RESORT
Year-Round
Driving east on either side of the Columbia River Gorge with Mount Hood filling the windshield, the stunning scenery leads to an enchanted place where you can choose your own adventure, relax and enjoy the magical hot water of Carson Hot Springs. Whether you are looking for luxury and a comfortable overnight stay or something a bit more rustic with a camping option, Carson Hot Springs in Washington has something for everyone.

THEATER IN THE GROVE PRESENTS ANNIE
Dec. 6–22
Join Theatre in the Grove, a cherished community theater known for its rich history and dedication to the arts, as they bring the heartwarming story of Annie to life. Located in Forest Grove, this beloved theater has entertained audiences for decades with high-quality performances and a passion for storytelling. Set during the Great Depression, Annie follows the adventures of a spirited young orphan who dreams of finding her family. Featuring iconic songs like "Tomorrow" and "It's a Hard Knock Life," this timeless musical celebrates resilience, hope, and the power of love. Perfect for all ages, this production will delight the entire family. Don't miss your chance to experience this classic tale live on stage.

THE DINNER DETECTIVE MURDER MYSTERY SHOW
Oct. 19, 2024–Mar. 22
Join The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show in Portland for an evening filled with suspense, laughter, and delicious dining. Step into a world of intrigue as you work to solve a thrilling crime that unfolds around you. But watch out — the culprit could be anyone in the room, and you might even become a Prime Suspect yourself.

Your ticket includes a full dinner, interactive murder mystery experience, waitstaff gratuity, and a special prize for the night’s Top Sleuth. Get ready for a night you won’t forget.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Nov. 29–Dec. 22
It’s A Wonderful Life is an award-winning musical adaptation of Frank Capra's classic film, with book and lyrics by Janet Mouser and music and lyrics by Michael Allen Harrison, Alan Berg and Julianne R. Johnson-Weiss.

It’s A Wonderful Life is a holiday favorite for all ages. An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed.

SANTA PHOTOS AT WASHINGTON SQUARE
Nov. 7–Dec. 24
Santa will arrive in style at Washington Square on November 7 to welcome everyone home for the holidays. Santa will be available for pictures at Washington Square through December 24. Capture your family’s entire Santa experience with multiple cameras that let you bring home the magic. From your child’s first glimpse of Santa to their excitement or shy arrival at Santa’s lap, capture the hug, the high-five and even some tears to create lasting memories. Guests can purchase candid shots and traditional poses to post online and share with friends and family.

The 2024 season has a full vendor roster, including new and returning small businesses spanning local, sustainably-grown agriculture, artisan food, and handmade arts and crafts, Some exciting new products at the market this year include organically grown vegetables and quail eggs from Tiny Acre, a St. Johns-based small scale organic farm; breakfast burritos from Poblano Pepper Mexican Food; and plant-based, farmer-forward pastries and treats from Poppy Shop. To see which vendors are scheduled for each week, check out the interactive market map: https://maps.managemymarket.com/6336