Activities, events and local spots to keep the whole family entertained!
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Looking for something fun to do with the kids? Our Kids Calendar is packed with family-friendly events happening all around Portland! Please confirm event details with the host— we do our best to keep things accurate, but event details can change!
Come hear festive cheer at the Portland Youth Philharmonic’s Christmas concert.
Set sail to Maybeland with Cinnamon Bear and friends aboard the Portland Spirit!
Director’s Park transforms into a Snowy Village.
OMSI's new feature exhibit, Monsters of the Abyss, opens on Saturday, October 4 and will be on view through February 16, 2026. Dive back in time to explore what lurked beneath the surface at the newest exhibit in Portland—Monsters of the Abyss: Aquatic Predators Past + Present. Meet massive mosasaurs, a spine-chilling Spinosaurus, and bizarre […]
Panto is Returning for the 2025 Holiday Season! Beauty and the Beast - A Musical Panto is a fun, interactive, family-friendly holiday event filled with slapstick, witty dialogue, great music, dancing, and a few wink-wink jokes for the adults. Kids and adults will laugh, cheer, and have a wonderful time. Panto is Interactive Theater and […]
Don't miss Santa pictures at Cedar Hills Crossing! Walk ups welcome every day until closing time. Please Note: Multiple families are scheduled during the selected 15-minute time. Hours vary by day, so be sure to check the event host's website before heading out! Visits with Santa are FREE, and photo packages will be available for […]
Twirl Into the Holidays! A sparkling winter tale set to Tchaikovsky’s festive score. When Marie’s mysterious godfather gives her a magical Nutcracker that comes to life, Marie and her Nutcracker Prince set off on an unforgettable Christmas Eve adventure to the Land of Sweets. Performed by Oregon Ballet Theatre. Presented by Fred Meyer | December […]
A family-friendly abridged version of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker is a magical journey that will enchant the whole family. "A Nutcracker Tea" has been a popular sought after Christmas tradition event in the Portland Metro area since 2004. The traditional classic story of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince is presented by NWDT with elaborate sets, stunning costumes, […]
Put on your skates and take to the rink this winter at OMSI on a unique indoor synthetic ice rink! Experience all the joys of ice skating together while comfortably indoors in OMSI’s auditorium-turned-winter-wonderland. Ticket Information Indoor Ice Rink Admission Adult (14+): $10.00 Senior (63+): $9.00 Youth (5-13): $8.00 Member Pricing OMSI members receive 50% off of ice […]
Go see Wicked: For Good at OMSI's Empirical Theater! Tickets $9 Adults, $8 Seniors, $7 Youth | OMSI Members receive half-off admission for this screening Member Empirical vouchers are not applicable. About the Film Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), now demonized as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, hidden within the Ozian forest while […]
Don't miss Santa pictures at Washington Square! Walk ups welcome every day until closing time. Please Note: Multiple families are scheduled during the selected 15-minute time. A visit with Santa is always free and photo packages are available for purchase. Santa's Schedule and Hours November 7: Fri: 2pm-7pm November 8-9: Sat & Sun: 11am-7pm (Break: 3-4pm) […]
The North Pole Adventureland Experience is an indoor walk-through, immersive holiday attraction for families of all sizes and ages! Guests will venture down Candy Cane Lane to find The North Pole Post Office, where kids can write their letter to Santa and mail it in our Magic Mailbox (with the help of a mischievous elf, […]
Delight in the Portland Christmas Ships Parade this season! Several events take place throughout December, and Santa might be at a few! Visit the event host's calendar for details. Most events are at 7pm, but times can vary. Over more than half a century, the Portland Christmas Ships Parade has grown into the longest continuously […]
Bring your loved ones, take a short drive, park your car and get hunting for the Christmas tree of your dreams, as you gaze upon thousands of Nobles, Douglas and Grand Fir-trees to be discovered! With over 100-acres of land to be explored, with plenty of parking, facilities, and that much desired “u-cut Christmas tree […]
Pittock Mansion Christmas celebrates the holiday in style, with a new theme every year. This year, they’re bringing back an expanded and reimagined version of the Home for the Holidays event, titled “The Decades Tour.” Visitors will enjoy festive displays across nineteen rooms in the mansion and four in the Gate Lodge, each artfully decorated […]
Say hello to Santa and other Christmas/Winter characters at Yesteryear Farm! Each weekend has a special character to say hello to (like Frosty the Snowman, Elsa and the Grinch!) — visit the event host's website for details including specific times. Pick a precut tree and visit their Holiday Farm Store with tons of cute photos […]
Here at PDX Parent, we love a Christmas tree adventure! Make magical memories at some of the local u-cut tree farms that surround the Portland-metro area. Many farms also offer food and drinks, and a chance to see animals or meet Santa. Some require ticketed entry, so check the farm websites before you go. Use our interactive […]
Santa and his elves will be available for visits and photos at Vancouver Mall through December 24! Sensory-friendly Santa is on December 7 at 9am. Check the event host's website for specific hours each day. Reservations are recommended but not required. Walk-ups are always welcome and will be accommodated as time allows.
Catch Santa by Macy's through December 24 at Clackamas Town Center!
Zen Penguin went on a trip and we need help getting him home! DEC 6 - DEC 31 12 unique 4ft Zen Penguin cutouts are hiding in local Portland businesses! Find them for your chance to win a FREE YEAR of Swim Lessons! How to Play: Follow our daily social media clues, snap a photo […]
The holidays are the highlight of many children’s year, and combining them with festive train rides and enchanting boat trips will have your kids over the moon! We’ve compiled some of the best holiday train and ship experiences in the area in this guide! Many of these magical journeys feature a special appearance by Santa […]
Experience the magic of the season at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center! The most highly anticipated event of the year is just around the corner – the beloved Holiday Express! Climb aboard with Santa Claus and his elves for a festive ride behind the historic 1912 Polson #2 steam locomotive. Relax in our warm, decorated […]
Join us at Wonderlove for a cheerful indoor 3 Day Holiday Market featuring Vendors, Live Music, Food Carts, Holiday Cocktails, Experiential Light Art, and more!! WHAT TO EXPECT: -Over 15 Vendors featuring a variety of artisinal goods such as stocking stuffers, custom jewelry, vintage clothing, home goods, high end artists & sculptures, oddities, health and […]
Music, Culture, and Puro Corazón. This event is crafted to connect families, lift local voices, and create economic empowerment for our artists and entrepreneurs. Head to Las Posadas Navideñas, Portland’s first celebration of its kind—a luminous, family-friendly event designed to honor the warmth, culture, and shared journey that defines us. This is more than a […]
Mark your calendars for DAWN’s third annual Ukrainian Winterfest! Join us for a celebration featuring live music, traditional dances, children’s activities, arts and crafts, food and drink for sale, a holiday bazaar, and more. Taste delicious Ukrainian dishes and drinks Enjoy live music and dance performances Learn about Ukrainian culture and traditional handicrafts Create traditional […]
This year Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum will be hosting the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce’s Glide & Gather Skating Experience. The Goose Lights Holiday Celebration begins the Friday after Thanksgiving (November 28th) and runs through December 31st this year. And don't miss Santa flying in by helicopter on December 13! Glide & Gather Skating Experience Schedule: […]
400+ vintage Santa Clones are officially out in Portland! They're illuminated daily from 4 pm -11 pm until January 1. Follow clues by creator Chris Willis to find this year's installation! Check out his instagram @thesantaclones for more information.
The region’s biggest holiday light display is back at the Oregon Zoo! ZooLights runs Nov. 21 through Jan. 4. Every year, ZooLights dazzles visitors of all ages with wildlife-inspired light displays and a whole lot of seasonal fun. It’s the ideal place to gather friends and family, snap photos and make lasting memories. Check out the […]
Drive by or take a stroll past the campground on Duke Street to enjoy thousands of lights, a life-size nativity, and the tallest decorated Christmas tree in Southeast Portland. Event activities include: Live Nativity Pageant ● Train Ride ● Petting Zoo ● Festive Music ● Thousands of Lights ● Magdalene the Camel ● Souvenir Photos […]
Head to this holiday drive through, and watch Powerland sparkle ✨ from the warmth and comfort of your own vehicle. 🚙 Enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays 🦌 as you take a ride through Powerland. From 5-8 pm, visit Santa! 🎅 📅 December 6-21; only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Nosh, sip, dance, mingle, shop. There will be plenty of seating for eating and schmoozing and wonderful gift items. Free childcare provided in their kids’ room!
Opens Friday, November 28th and goes through December 31! Glow Christmas Oregon is a festive light celebration with something for everyone! Glow Oregon is an expansive outdoor walk-around light experience, with large covered areas throughout the festival. All attractions throughout the event are included in the ticket price. The event includes over 1 million twinkling […]
This year’s Winter Fair is going to be more magical than ever before! Be dazzled by over 200,000 shimmering lights and enchanting scenes. This half-mile walk will whisk you through tunnels of wonder, leading you straight to the arena, where our large Christmas tree will put on a little show by lighting up the night […]
Enjoy an awe-inspiring light display and market at the Oregon Garden Resort! This annual event offers a magical holiday experience for all ages. Stroll along immersive paths draped in more than 1.5 million lights. Explore their authentic German Christmas Market for gifts from artisan vendors and imported German nutcrackers, smokers and ornaments. Visit Santa to share your wish list or enjoy […]
Visit a truly magical Christmas display in the Parrett Mountain neighborhood of Newberg. They specialize in vintage animated figures and scenes. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in a magical experience that includes a look inside Santa's Workshop to watch the elves making toys, a visit with the reindeer in their stalls, and a glimpse […]
Experience the magic of the holidays at the Hawthorne Loop Light Show! This dazzling neighborhood display transforms this family home into a winter wonderland with thousands of synchronized lights, festive music, and creative decorations that delight visitors of all ages. Created by Chris and Kendall Ekerson, who have a passion for spreading holiday cheer, the […]
