Top 5 Holiday Activities in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon, is one of the greatest places to visit in the Pacific Northwest if you know where to look. It’s a haven for foodies, explorers, fashionistas, music fans, families, and couples to eat, shop, play and explore.
Around the holidays, Portland offers holiday fun around every corner. Here are our top five favorite holiday activities in Portland, Oregon.
Fun Holiday Activities in Portland, Oregon
1. Experience the ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo
Nov. 23, 2022 to Jan. 5, 2023, excluding Dec. 25
ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo displays 1.5 million lights, creating illuminating displays of all of your favorite zoo animals. Grab your favorite people and a thermos of hot cocoa, and wander through the zoo. Reserve your tickets today!
Looking for more fun things to do in the Pacific Northwest? Check out our can’t miss holiday activities in Leavenworth and fun holiday activities for the whole family in Coeur d’Alene.
2. Watch the Nutcracker Ballet
Various dates Dec. 10 to Dec. 24, 2022
The Oregon Ballet Theatre marks the holiday season with a stunning rendition of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. Seats fill up quickly so we suggest reserving your tickets well in advance.
3. Watch Portland Light Up a 75-Foot Tall Christmas Tree
Friday, Nov. 25, 2022; 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Take a stroll through Pioneer Courthouse Square and watch as Portland lights up its 75-foot tall Christmas tree, featuring over 14,000 lights. If you line up your visit just right, you can also catch The Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition on Dec. 9, and the 31st Annual Tuba Christmas Concert on Dec. 10. This concert features dozens of tuba players and brass instrumentalists playing holiday music.
4. Catch what Portland Calls the “Largest Light Show West of the Mississippi”
Nov. 25 to Dec. 31, 2022
Over 250 light displays light up Winter Wonderland Portland, creating forty different scenes to drive through and experience. This is a fun, family-friendly event that all ages will love. Check it out this season at the Portland International Raceway.
5. Stumptown SantaCon
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022
Of all the bar crawls to experience in the Northwest, this one is especially fun. Dress up as Santa Claus with hundreds of other “bad Santas” and end up on the naughty list as you travel through over 20 of Portland’s best bars and taverns. You can find tickets to the event here.
Enjoy the Holidays in Portland
While it was difficult to choose, these are our top five holiday events in Portland, Oregon, to check out. Will you experience the ZooLights, watch the Nutcracker, visit Pioneer Courthouse Square for their holiday events, drive around a lighted winter wonderland or dress up as Santa, drinking your way through Portland? Let us know in the comments below!
Christine Burns
Christine Burns is a local entrepreneur, public speaker, content creator, model, and writer from Spokane, WA. She’s an expert in marketing and owns Posted Consulting LLC, an award-winning PR firm. Born and raised in the Inland Northwest, Christine loves to support and advocate for local businesses and artists, and even hosts the annual Spokane Small Business Convention in the spring.
