Portland and Area Activities Planner - November 22, 2024

by Geri And Tim Penner

WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND?
Excerpts From
TravelPortland .com
TualitinValley.org
TravelOregon.com

	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 NUTCRACKER Nov. 23–24 Oregon International Ballet Academy revives its highly acclaimed Nutcracker production! OIBA’s Nutcracker offers a unique and seamless integration of charming and joyful performances by student dancers with stunning appearances from the school’s top performers and surprise guest artists. The result is a high-quality, cohesive, and exhilarating experience that delivers a heaping portion of holiday magic.
	TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA Sunday, Nov. 24 Multi-platinum, progressive rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) their highly anticipated winter tour. They will perform “The Lost Christmas Eve" for the first time in over ten years. Get in the holiday spirit with this unforgettable, multi-generational holiday tradition.
	PET NIGHTS WITH SANTA Oct 18-Nov 3 Is your pet on the “Nice” list? Celebrate the holiday season with photos of your fur baby at Washington Square. Your pet won’t ask for much this Christmas — all they want is you. If your four-legged family member has been a good girl or boy this year, you can repay their devotion by including them in the holiday cheer with a special “Pets With Santa” visit.
	ZACH BRYAN Nov. 26–27 Country sensation Zach Bryan brings The Quittin Time Tour to Portland for two shows at Moda Center. The 27-year-old has built a hard-won reputation as an in-concert force of nature, second to none, as evidenced by anyone who attended shows from his Burn, Burn, Burn Tour, which wraps in Kansas City at the end of the month. All shows sold out instantly several months in advance,and he set new attendance records at several venues along the way.
	THANKSGIVING DINNER Thursday, Nov. 28 Join Mayrose, at the Historic Duniway hotel in the heart of Downtown Portland, for a prix fixe 3 course Thanksgiving menu with all the trimmings. Savor the flavors of the Thanksgiving Dinner Celebration. The culinary team has crafted a delightful prix fixe dinner to include items like gnocchi with brown butter and sage, ale brined turkey breast or carved striploin, basque pumpkin cheesecake & pecan pie tartlet.
	PORTLAND SPIRIT THANKSGIVING DAY CRUISES Thursday, Nov. 28 The perfect setting for a wonderful Thanksgiving with the whole family. Let us do the cooking this holiday. Sit back and relax as you cruise down the river taking in the views of the city of Portland and the historic Milwaukie waterfront. Enjoy a delicious buffet meal with holiday classics and tempting desserts.
	THANKSGIVING AT THE RESORT Thursday, Nov. 28 Give thanks and celebrate. Join the Oregon Garden Resort for a delicious Thanksgiving meal. The special menu includes many holiday favorites, such as prime rib, turkey, ham, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and more. It will be available in the Garden View Restaurant and Orchid Ballroom. Click here for the full menu
	THE MURDER MYSTERY COMPANY DINNER THEATER SHOW November 23 Join the event everyone is dying to attend—a two-hour-long comedic murder mystery in which even YOU can be the killer. Prepare to unravel the secrets of a thrilling murder mystery, where every twist and turn leads you closer to uncovering the truth. Put your sleuthing skills to the test as you examine clues and mingle with suspects, all while enjoying a delectable three-course meal. But beware — you might find yourself a suspect in this gripping tale. Secure your tickets now for an evening you won't soon forget. October: disguise yourself for our costume party, “Midnight at the Masquerade.” November: a 1930s Old Hollywood whodunit titled “Best Laid Plans.” December: celebrate the holidays with “The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year.”
	MIDWINTER REVELS Friday, Nov 22 Portland Revels celebrates the seasons through song, dance, story and ritual of the past and present, creating community across generations and cultures.
	Twelfth Night or What 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.
	PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS VS SACREMENTO KINGS Fri Nov 1 7:00 PM Watch the Portland Trail Blazers take on the Sacremento Kings in these regular-season NBA games. Cheer along with Rip City at the Moda Center and become part of a Portland tradition.
	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.
	PORTLAND LATIN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL Sept 25–Nov 24 The Portland Latin American Film Festival announces its XVIII Season at the Hollywood Theatre, featuring feature films, documentaries, and short films from Peru, Portugal, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Mexico, Argentina.
	STEELPORT HOLIDAY MARKET June 8–Nov. 23 Get your holiday shopping done early and connect with some Portland’s best local brands, all in one place, while enjoying food, drink, and good conversation. This event is free to attend. Vendors providing samples, selling products, and sharing their stories, include: Powell’s Books selling a selection of Portland's best cookbooks FINEX Cast Iron Cookware The Joinery Westward Whiskey The Flavor Society Tan Tan pFriem Family Brewers Nossa Família Coffee Smith Teamakers STEELPORT Knife Co.
	LENTS INTERNATIONAL FARMERS MARKET Sundays, Jun 2 – Nov 24 The Lents International Farmers Market (LIFM) is the only one in Portland with an intentional international focus. LIFM provides fresh, affordable and culturally appropriate produce to the diverse community of Lents neighbors. Founded in 2006 by a community of volunteers and then run by Zenger Farm, it is an important sales outlet for immigrant and new farmers and small food-business owners. The market features culturally specific products, including Northwest-grown traditional Mexican produce and Asian greens.
	STERNWHEELER RIVER TOURS Year-Round This once primary mode of transportation has become more of a fun commodity for tourism, as river cruise ships provide visitors a chance to get out on the water and take in the sights of their new surroundings. Oregon joined in on the trend in the early 1980s. Since then, several non-steam-powered sternwheel riverboats have been built and operated on major waterways in the state, primarily on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers in Marion County. Each is a fun ride for visitors and locals alike as they seemingly tug along and transport them to yesteryear.
	HIGH LIFE ADVENTURES Year Round Enjoy a tour of 8 zip lines in a beautiful setting. Join two tour guides on an exhilarating zip line experience around and over a seven-acre lake. A mile of zipping, sure to create lasting memories for the whole family. Take your team to the next level: High Life Adventures also offers customized Team Building Programs to challenge your group while bringing them together as a team.
	PORTLAND SATURDAY MARKET Mar. 9–Dec. 15 Combining the vibes of an art show, a live street concert and an open-air bazaar, the Portland Saturday Market has been a beloved Rose City tradition since 1974. In fact, the market is considered the largest continually operating arts-and-crafts fair in the United States, drawing up to one million visitors during its annual season.
	ST JOHN'S FARMERS MARKET May 4–Dec. 14 The St. Johns Farmers Market will be open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday May 4 through November 23, the weekend before Thanksgiving. There will also be a Holiday Market on Saturday, December 14, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The market is held at the corner of N. Charleston Ave. and N Central St, next to the St. Johns Bachelor Club. 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
	PORTLAND INDIGENOUS MARKETPLACE Ongoing Portland Indigenous Marketplace will host the Indigenous Marketplace. Over 30 vendors, food, art exhibits, and more will be present. A marketplace specifically for Indigenous/Black vendors, all the artists/entrepreneurs featured on Indigenous Marketplace have Indigenous/Black ancestry. Vendors sell their hand made and original designs.