Activities, events and local spots to keep the whole family entertained!
Connect with businesses that serve families, discover Portland’s family-friendly neighborhoods, and get the latest info from our e-newsletter and monthly print magazine.
Explore child care, preschool and private school options. Plus after-school activities and enrichment programs to reinforce your child’s learning.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Come celebrate the New Year a tad early at The FLIP Museum in downtown Hillsboro. From 9:30-1:30, check out our fireworks craft. But stay until noon if you can, when we ring in the new year with streamers dropping from the 2nd floor! Bringing a friend and counting down from 10 are strongly encouraged. Check […]
“We must walk lightly when we are between worlds with this sacred being.” – Phillip Cash Cash Indigenous peoples have long been in relationship with and shared stories about sacred forest protectors, often called Sasquatch and Bigfoot. The works in this exhibition are made by Indigenous artists and honor generations of spiritual practices, storytelling, and tradition. Leave your preconceived […]
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 […]
Snuggle up for the coziest Noon Year’s Eve Party ever! Come play in your PJs and ring in the new year with sweet dreams for the future. • Print your own dreamy designs in the Silkscreen Print Shop • Pour sparkly sand art straight from the dust of time • Laugh and learn during Dr. Science’s wacky experiments • Create […]
We are excited to invite families with young children to ring in the New Year at The Reser! Join us on December 31st from 11am – 2pm. This event is intended for families with children 10 years old and younger. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
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 […]
Ring in the New Year at Ground Kontrol, surrounded by 120+ games with unlimited credits! $10 from noon-5pm (all ages), $25 from 5pm-close (21+, exit-only after 11pm, closing at 1am) Champagne toast at midnight!
Ring in the new year early with an afternoon of family-friendly fun and fast-paced hoops.
The Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest (NARA NW) presents an annual beacon of hope and celebration with its Sobriety Powwow, a cornerstone event in Portland’s New Year’s Eve festivities. As one of the largest sober New Year’s parties in the country, the powwow draws thousands to close out the year with a powerful […]
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 […]
Ring in the 2026 New Year with a celebration the whole family will love! Join us for an unforgettable Family New Year’s Experience packed with fun, games, food, and festive excitement. From thrilling arcade action to delicious bites and sparkling drinks, we’ve got everything you need to welcome 2026 in style...without staying up till midnight! Experience Highlights: Countdown Celebration - A family-friendly New […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Winter Wonderland is the largest holiday light show in the Pacific Northwest, spanning the entire racetrack at Portland International Raceway. Bring the whole family for a leisurely cruise to see over a million holiday lights from the comfort of your own car. Kids and adults alike will stare in awe at the hundreds of festive […]
Starkwood Holiday Lights For 65 years, Starkwood HOA has brightened East Portland by lighting our homes to spread warmth and cheer during this special time of year. This beloved tradition creates treasured memories for all who come to experience our hidden gem, and we warmly invite you to share in the magic with your friends […]
The third annual Bing in the New Year celebration, presented by 1847 Food Park, will take place from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 31, 2025, in downtown Milwaukie, Oregon, birthplace of the Bing cherry. This free, family-friendly outdoor event includes live music, cultural performances, food, drinks and vendors. The evening culminates with the lowering, by crane, of a 7-foot lighting Bing […]
It's the most wonderful time of the year again, and the residents of Peacock Lane will be displaying their lights from December 15th - December 31st, 2025! Bundle up and stroll through their beautiful holiday displays. General days/times: December 15-31, 6 pm - 11 pm each night Pedestrian-only Nights (no vehicles allowed): Friday, December 19, […]
"Rink" in the new year at our annual New Year's Eve skate party featuring a live DJ, party favors, prize drawings, a countdown to midnight, and a special champagne toast for guests 21+! Skating Only: $25 Skating + Champagne Toast: $30 Spectator: $9 Spectator + Champagne Toast: $13
Enjoy a night at Core PDX filled with joy as you welcome in 2026! This is a free all-ages event. - Live Music: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM - DJ: 8:45 PM until midnight! - Complimentary Champagne: Enjoy free pours for the countdown. - Photo Wall: Snap selfies with friends and family at their 2026 […]
🎉🎆✨ NEW YEAR’S GLOW PICKLEBALL PARTY ✨🎆🎉 Lights DOWN ⬇️ • Energy UP ⬆️ • Vibes ON 🔥 Glow into the New Year with a black light pickleball PARTY! Neon accents 🌈, pumping music 🎶, and nonstop social open play 🎾💥 Wear WHITE + NEON to glow extra bright 💚💖💙 and bring the big energy! ⏰ EAST COAST COUNTDOWN ALERT! ⏰ We’ll be celebrating New Year’s at 9PM (midnight EST) 🥂🎊 — all the fun, none […]
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 […]
Kick off the new year with a First Day Hike! Many hikes around Oregon and Washington have guided tours on this day. First Day Hikes are an opportunity for park visitors to start the new year on the right foot in the outdoors. Guided hikes are generally free, but parking fees may apply. Visit Oregon's state parks […]
Join longtime educators and lead instructors at Southwest Portland Martial Arts - Sifu Wally & Lara Jones in the padded play space of SWPMA PLAY! at 5315 SW Capitol Highway in Hillsdale Town Center, for ninjas ages 3 & 4. These are drop-in age-appropriate, play-based movement classes, where people take the time to connect with […]
It’s cold outside, but campground reservation season starts early.
