Portland guide

Holiday Events in Portland This Season

Portland's holiday season runs from mid-November through New Year's Eve: drive-through Winter Wonderland lights at Portland International Raceway, ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo, the Grotto's Christmas Festival of Lights, the Holiday Express train from the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, Oregon Ballet Theatre's Nutcracker at Keller Auditorium, and Oregon Symphony holiday concerts at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

This list is only events that are actually about the holidays — light displays, holiday markets and craft fairs, Christmas concerts and shows, Santa visits, and holiday fun runs — pulled daily from Portland venue calendars from November through New Year's Eve. Each row shows the date, venue, and ticket price where the organizer lists one.

Last updated Nov 13, 2026 at 12:29 PM168 matching events currently listedsourced from Portland venue calendars

Plus 88 more on the full calendar.

Good to know

Where can I see Christmas lights in Portland?

Sunshine Division's Winter Wonderland turns Portland International Raceway into a drive-through light show from late November, with a bike-the-lights night and a dogs-welcome Lights & Leashes night. The Oregon Zoo runs ZooLights, including a sensory-friendly evening, and The Grotto in Northeast Portland holds its Christmas Festival of Lights. Dates are listed above.

Where are the holiday markets in Portland?

Portland Flea's Decked Out Holiday Market at The Redd is free to browse, the Merry Bright Vintage Christmas Market sets up at Flux Events Center, the Holiday Food Gift Festival in Hillsboro has free admission, and the Wicked Craft Yule Night Market runs in early December. Church and school holiday bazaars fill the November weekends.

When is The Nutcracker in Portland?

Oregon Ballet Theatre performs George Balanchine's The Nutcracker with its orchestra at Keller Auditorium in December, and Dominic Walsh's Storybook Nutcracker follows later in the month. Keller also hosts A Magical Cirque Christmas on New Year's Eve. Each row above links to tickets.

What holiday events are good for kids in Portland?

The Holiday Express runs vintage-train excursions from the Oregon Rail Heritage Center between November 27 and December 27 ($25 to $35), Santa visits Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's, Norse Hall throws a Children's Christmas Party, and PAM CUT's Tomorrow Theater screens The Muppet Christmas Carol. ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo is the classic family night out.

Are there free holiday events in Portland?

Yes. Portland Flea's Decked Out Holiday Market at The Redd and the Oregon Buddhist Temple's holiday craft fair are free, the Holiday Food Gift Festival has free admission, and Tualatin's Ugly Holiday Sweater Run is free to join. Filter the list above by Free for the rest.

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