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!
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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) […]
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 […]
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 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, […]
Catch it before it's gone! FLIP has been exploring engineering all month, with hands-on activities to inspire kids to learn about engineering. Imagine, build, and then maybe knock it all down, if you want. There's no wrong way to do things at FLIP, as long as we're being safe and kind, of course. We've extended […]
We're celebrating both Christmas and Kwanzaa this week. Make a wreath ornament and weave a Mkeka Mat and listen to stories about both of these holidays. We're staying open late too, 9:30-5:00, so everyone can fit this into their winter break. Of course, the rest of the museum will be open as well, including all […]
Indoor Play Parks are officially back! 🎉 Cozy up in the Cedar Hills Recreation Center for a variety of fun games for children under the age of six! Enjoy our mini roller coaster, ride-on cars, pedal cars, mini-trampoline, mini basketball hoops, and other play toys! ***Before you go - check THPRD's website - activity calendar […]
Gather in our beautiful new education pavilion to try out a few nature-inspired crafts, enjoy a hot cocoa and take home a seasonal gift. Fun hands-on instructions and all the materials will be provided to create a pinecone gnome ornament and forest plant tea sampler. Together we will be: Learning about native plants in the […]
Buy one open play entry and get one free every Tuesday starting in March at our Indoor Playground!
Climb aboard the Imagination Express for train-themed fun December 20th through January 4th! Young engineers can go full steam ahead with hands-on engineering, art, and dream building. Each stop brings brand-new adventures. Go full STEAM ahead in the MakeSpace, get crafty in Art Studio Junction, and visit the Tinker Toyland at East Bay Depot. From crafty […]
Join us as we extend our hours for the holidays at our kid-friendly 9-hole indoor mini golf course spanning 7,000 sq ft! Next door to Wonderwood Cafe where you can grab a bite to eat, and a delicious beverage after!
Hear stories, sing songs, and enjoy fun activities for children of all ages and their parents or caregivers. Hosted by the Vancouver Mall Public Library on Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11am-12pm. Library events and programs are open to the public and provided at no cost. Check the event host's website for confirm the event is happening […]
It’s not Christmas without your annual Santa Photo! Reserve your spot today to get your Santa picture at Lloyd Center, located next to the ice rink. 100% of your $15 donation supports the Salvation Army. Be sure to bring your own phone or camera, and you can take multiple photos! Click the link below and […]
This holiday season Director Park will turn back into a true winter wonderland with the return of Snow Day Village! Warm up by a fire pit, grab some smore’s, and do your holiday shopping at Mike Bennet’s Ornament Gift Shop. Central City Concern will be hosting a Giving Tree in the gift shop for those […]
Visit Snow Day Village downtown for so many holiday festivities including holiday shopping at Mike Bennet’s Ornament Gift Shop. Central City Concern will be hosting a Giving Tree in the gift shop for those wanting to spread holiday cheer to other families.
Mike Bennett's Gilly the Goldfish has escaped from the Portland Aquarium and we need your help finding her. Come take part in the Gilly the Goldfish Scavenger hunt happening this holiday season in Downtown Portland. Pick up your scavenger hunt sheet at Snow Day Village located in Director Park! Open daily from 11am - 7pm.
Starting December 8th and running through the end of Winter Break, come find your favorite characters from the new Spongebob Movie at the Portland Aquarium!! Explore under the sea where you will find over 100 cartoon animals swimming with some of your favorite Spongebob characters. Free Spongebob prizes for everyone that completes the scavenger hunt […]
Northwest Children’s Theater presents the timeless musical, The Wizard of Oz, just in time for the holidays! With a shortened run time, this youth edition version is perfect for young theater-goers. Playing Saturdays and Sundays November 29–January 4 at The Judy in downtown Portland. Shows at 11:30am and 3pm. Make your holiday plans today at […]
Join us for an afternoon of festive winter fun for kids at The Literary Arts Bookstore & Cafe! We’ll have oodles of sugar cookies to decorate, a coloring/craft corner, and a cozy winter story time. It’s fun for all ages! Plus, it’s not all cookies. Parents and Adults, grab a heartier bite of lunch or […]
ZOOZOO December 19th through January 4th at Imago Theatre ZOOZOO Having toured everywhere from Los Angeles to Chicago, from New York City to Iowa City, Imago's crowd-pleasing ZooZoo is back in Portland, the city where it was born. This enchanting show – a truly magical revue featuring persnickety penguins, insomniac hippos, playful polar bears, an […]
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 […]
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 […]
Join us for live music with children’s performer Mr. Ben, a fun show designed for kids (ages newborn through 5) —but enjoyable for adults too! This free, family-friendly event (tips encouraged) is a relaxed space for families to sing, move, and socialize together. We have indoor and outdoor seating, scratch-made local dinners, and 12 drinks on tap plus […]
Portland Mall Management partners with Pioneer Courthouse Square and local businesses to bring free events and performances to the Transit Mall! Enjoy live performances while connecting businesses, retailers, residents, and visitors alike. From free hot cocoa and strolling carolers to beloved local performers and festive cheer, enjoy merry moments throughout December. Performance Schedule (confirm with […]
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 […]
