From Thanksgiving through the end of the year there are several great opportunities to enjoy the season in the city of Portland. There is an abundance of celebrations from the traditional to the unexpected. Here is what Portland has to offer for 2021.
Holiday Events and Festivals
The holiday event season kicks off just after Thanksgiving with the very popular annual tree lighting ceremony in Pioneer Courthouse Square. This beloved Portland tradition includes top-notch performers such as Pink Martini and a countdown to the moment the towering tree is all lit up with sparkling lights.
Also taking place just after Thanksgiving is an amazing display of lights, trees, and decorations revolving around a chosen theme on display at the historic Pittock Mansion overlooking the city of Portland. You can find Pittock Mansion by in the West Hills.
If looking at Christmas trees is something you enjoy, you can stroll through the yuletide forest that is full of dozens of uniquely decorated Christmas trees at the Providence Festival of Trees.
Come enjoy the sweet Christmas trains put on display every winter by the Mount Hood Model Engineers. This amazing railroad display encompasses about 1200 ft.². It is a sight to see for both train fans and everybody else alike. You can also hop aboard the holiday express train which is a vintage steam locomotive that takes passengers on a cheerful ride with Santa from the Oregon Pacific railroad in Southeast Portland.
For some grown-up-only festivity, you can take in the Holiday Ale Festival in Pioneer Courthouse Square with more than 50 seasonal craft brews available for enjoyment as well as a Sunday beer brunch.
To some, the holidays just would not be the holidays without going to see the Nutcracker as a live performance. The Oregon Ballet Theater puts on the only George Balanchine choreographed production of the holiday classic west of the Mississippi.
Portland Light Displays
Every year the Oregon Zoo puts on an amazing display of several thousand-holiday lights with their ZooLights event. There are over 1 million different bulbs lit up in the dark night sky. This is a family-friendly event and there is also an adult-friendly event at the same venue on a select few nights called BrewLights with several different beer, cider, and seltzer vendors on site.
Other light displays include Winter Wonderland at the Portland International Raceway and the Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto, as well as Southeast Portland’s famous Peacock Lane.
For a fun twist on an amazing Christmas light display, you can watch the Christmas Ship Parade which is a popular favorite. It takes place on the banks of the Willamette River and the Columbia River. This parade of privately owned boats has been taking place since 1954 in Portland.
Holiday Music
There are many great live music performances all throughout Portland during the holiday season. Perhaps the most loved and popular is the Singing Christmas Tree which is a showcase of traditional and contemporary holiday music sung by more than 350 singers accompanied by dancers, local actors, and a live orchestra.
For a traditional classical music performance, you can take in the Comfort and Joy Concert presented by the Oregon Symphony or enjoy Handel’s Messiah presented by the PSU Chamber Choir and Oregon Symphony.
As a Portland resident, I love this time of year. Enjoy it all year round by living here. There are some amazing homes and neighborhoods in the Portland real estate market. Start your search here but remember, for all homes and real estate in and around the Portland metro area, contact our office at any time.