Portland Holiday Activities

The day after Thanksgiving, head downtown for some holiday shopping and the Macy's Holiday Parade. The parade will begin at NW Park and Davis, then travel east to Broadway, south on Broadway to SW Alder, east on Alder (past Macy’s) to 4th, north on 4th to NW Flanders, west on Flanders to Park.

Get your tickets now and enjoy a theatrical performance with your loved ones. The Oregon Ballet puts on a spectacular performance of the Nutracker each year, and if you've never seen the Santaland Diaries, based on a David Sedaris book, it's highly recommended.

With so many worthy organizations in town, the holidays are a great time to kick off your commitment to the community. 

Enjoy the Oregon Zoo, holiday style. Hop on the zoo train and take a zoo tour, with a million lights! The event runs from late November to early January.

Whether it's the drive-through display at PIR or a stroll down Peacock Lane, Portland's holiday lighting displays are a beautiful, bright way to celebrate the season.

The Willamette and Columbia Rivers will host the 65th annual Christmas Ships Parade. Watch more than 60 boats decorated with festive holiday lights as they cruise down both of the rivers, December 5 through December 22, 2019. Get the schedule online.

The Chanuka Menora will shine in Pioneer Courthouse Square from December 22 to 30, 2019.

December 5-7, 2019
Experience the holidays by walking through a village with more than 100 trees, wreaths and holiday vignettes created by local designers, businesses, and volunteers. Vote for your favorites, too. Kids can also visit Santa's workshop, and have photos taken with Santa.

Holiday lights, a 40 foot castle, and festive Christmas scenes are all part of the Christmas Fantasy Trail. Take a walk, have some refreshments, and experience the fantasy trail. Open December 2nd - Dec. 28, 2019.

The Pittock Mansion will be decorated to illustrate different traditions of Christmas, including decorating trees, writing Christmas cards, serving holiday foods, playing Christmas music, and giving gifts.

Runs late November through early January.

On the day after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 29, 2019) thousands will gather in and around Pioneer Square for the 35th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. It begins at 5:30 p.m.