Activities, events and local spots to keep the whole family entertained!
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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!
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 […]
Come see the magic of The Nutcracker! Performed by Classical Ballet Academy’s Ballet 6-10 dancers with Ballet 3, Teen Beginning Ballet, Teen Intermediate Ballet, and adult dancers as well. Don’t miss this sell-out performance! This show is approximately two hours long including intermission and is recommended for all audience members. Showtimes: 12/18: 6pm 12/19: 7pm […]
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 […]
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!
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Come join us for a jolly good time at Triskelee Farm! Santa will be spreading holiday cheer with his helping farm animals. Bring the whole family for a festive day filled with fun , delicious treats, and of course, a chance to meet the man in red himself. Don't forget to bring your camera to […]
Nob Hill Christmas and Santa Land is open once again for the 2025 Christmas Season. We are located at NW 26th and Wilson st in downtown Portland and feature classic department store displays, photos with Santa on the weekends and Christmas decor retail, fresh cut Christmas Trees, Garland and Wreaths. This year we are also […]
“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 […]
November 30, 2025 – January 11, 2026* Jerry Willey Plaza at Orenco Station Find seasonal cheer at this outdoor ice-skating rink. Winter Village is a beloved Hillsboro event. Bring your friends and family to a skate session or rent the rink for your private party. Don't miss exciting special events and skate days! Public Skate Sessions […]
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 […]
Step into Portland’s only authentic Chinese garden as it transforms into a festive winter wonderland this December! Experience the holidays through a new cultural lens you won't find anywhere else. Capture photos with Asian Santa, delight in the festive ambiance, and receive a blessing that merges modern cheer with the peaceful grace of classical Chinese […]
Come check out Mike's new studio located at 707 NE Fremont. Holiday fun for all ages!! We will have fresh donuts and coffee, along with holiday arts and crafts, gift wrapping plus holiday movies and music! Feel free to stop by anytime between 11am - 3pm!
This flagship holiday shopping experience shines a spotlight on Portland’s most skilled artists, makers and small businesses. Enjoy 160+ vendors for TWO weekends this holiday season!
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 […]
