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!
Create magical memories at Barnes & Noble Holiday Storytime.
Attend the My People’s Market for a weekend of live music, art and food.
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 […]
Head to a Home Depot near you at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month for free kids workshops! While supplies last. Each month is a different activity. Upcoming events: November 1: Excavator November 29: Teddy Bear Ornament December 6: Holiday Cocoa Mug January 3: Tow Truck
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 […]
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 […]
Enjoy the hometown holiday spirit of historic Downtown Ridgefield where you will find twinkling lights, decorated businesses, gifts, food, and holiday specials. 9am-2pm. Tree lighting at 4:30pm The celebration includes: Holiday Food & Gift Vendor Marketplace The Circle of Trees Decorating Contest Complimentary visits with Santa - take your own picture with your smartphone or […]
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!
Kick off the holiday season with a full day of family-friendly activities for the whole community to enjoy. Join us for this beloved community gathering with music, free treats, pictures with Santa and more. This winter season we want all of Gresham to celebrate our many holidays and traditions while gathering to light up the […]
Bird Alliance of Oregon’s Wild Arts Festival Celebrates its 45th year, at the Wingspan Event Center December 6 & 7, 2025 (10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 |10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7). The festival is one of the giving season’s biggest holiday shopping events, featuring unique local artisan […]
Step into the magic of the holidays with Portland’s Own Nutcracker — a timeless classic with a uniquely Portland twist! Journey back to the elegance of the 1920s at the historic Pittock Mansion, where Henry and Georgiana Pittock host a dazzling Christmas party for their special guests, the Stallenbaugh family from Germany. When Heir Drosselmeyer […]
175+ of Portland's best vendors celebrating local food, culture, music, drinks and retail. The Portland Night Market showcases many unique businesses that call Portland home. Blending food, culture, music, drinks and retail together for an adventurous evening in the Central Eastside. Meet some of Portland's best makers and creators!
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Presenting the sights, sounds, and sensations of the season, The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights features over two million lights and is the largest Christmas choral festival in the world. The event includes nightly indoor holiday concerts, outdoor caroling, puppet shows, and an assortment of musical guests. Holiday shopping is available in the gift shop. […]
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 […]
Mainstage Presents - “Pippin” 2013 Broadway Revival With an infectiously unforgettable score from four-time Grammy winner, three-time Oscar winner and musical theatre giant, Stephen Schwartz, Pippin is the story of one young man's journey to be extraordinary. Winner of four 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival, this updated circus-inspired version of Pippin continues to […]
A NOT-so-traditional holiday tradition! Baby penguins, waltzing flowers, mischievous mini NOT-Bunnies, and an enchanting Sugar Plum take the stage in this joyful, imaginative performance. Featuring professional dancers and over 50 kids, NOT-Cracker is Portland’s new favorite holiday adventure for the whole family! Plus, join us for NOT-Cracker Kids Day on November 23—a pre-show celebration with crafts, […]
Bring the magic of the holidays to life with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, a heartwarming stage adaptation of the beloved 1964 Rankin/Bass television classic. This cherished tale of friendship, acceptance, and Christmas cheer is perfect for families looking to create lasting holiday memories together. Join Rudolph, the most famous reindeer of all, as […]
Explore the museum’s permanent exhibit halls and labs for just $5 per person on the first Sunday of each month. Tickets for Empirical Theater and Kendall Planetarium shows, tours of the USS Blueback Submarine as well as select special exhibitions can also be purchased for $5 per person on OMSI $5 Days. We anticipate higher […]
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 […]
