Holiday Happenings: Celebrate with Christmas Ships, Festival of Trees, OBT’s ‘The Nutcracker’ and more

Published 12:15 am Monday, December 2, 2024

Here’s what’s going on to celebrate the holidays in the coming days:

CHRISTMAS SHIPS — You’ll have to brave the cold (and possibly wet) weather, but you can’t go a holiday season without watching the 70th annual Christmas Ships Parade on the Willamette and Columbia rivers. Dozens of boats participate in the annual parade, which will occur most nights at 7 p.m., Dec. 5-22 (christmasships.org).

JOHN WATERS — The famous moviemaker and storyteller returns with “A John Waters Christmas,” 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Dec. 5-6 at Aladdin Theater (aladdin- theater.com).

OREGON SYMPHONY — There are two upcoming holiday concerts at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall: “Vivaldi’s Four Seasons,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, featuring four violin concertos representing spring, summer, autumn and winter; “Love Actually in Concert,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, as the movie about nine unique love stories set in December in London shows on the big screen and the symphony plays the score (orsymphony.org).

FESTIVAL OF TREES — It’s always fun to see exquisitely decorated trees at the 42nd annual Festival of Trees, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Oregon Convention Center (providencefoundations.org/events). There’ll be dozens of trees to see and admire, as well as live entertainment, Santa Claus and more. It benefits Providence Children’s Health.

CHRISTMAS CABARET — Becca Berger-Howe puts on a music journey through different themes with “The 12 Songs of Christmas: A Christmas Cabaret,” from the wonders of the first winter snowfall to the benefits of Christmas drinking, publicity says. There’ll be choral music, jazz classics and holiday musical showstoppers, and special guests will be members of the Portland Revels Chorus. It takes place 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at Resound NW, 1532 S.W. Jefferson St. See Eventbrite for more.

BAROQUE CONCERT — Portland Baroque Orchestra, under the new leadership of Artistic Director Julian Perkins, puts on its annual Handel’s “Messiah” concert, also starring Cappella Romana, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 and 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 7-8, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1126 S.W. Park Ave. (pbo.org).

HOLIDAY BREW FEST — Beer lovers will gather at Pioneer Courthouse Square for the Holiday Brew Fest, 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, noon-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 and noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 (pdxholidaybrewfest.com).

‘THE NUTCRACKER’ — If you haven’t seen it, you should probably go see it: Oregon Ballet Theatre puts on performances of “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker,” Dec. 7-24 at Keller Auditorium. The story: Brave toy soldiers battle villainous mice, candy canes leap and snowflakes whirl, all to Tchaikovsky’s wondrous score — and don’t forget about a Portland holiday favorite, Mother Ginger (obt.org).

SCANFAIR — ScanFair is a gathering of foods, crafts, music and Scandinavian Christmas traditions at Oregon Convention Center, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. There’ll be food vendors, entertainment, costumes, arts and crafts, holiday exhibits and more (nordicnorth west.org).

HOLIDAY HALF MARATHON — One of Portland’s favorite winter races offers a variety of course lengths along scenic views of the Willamette River on Swan Island. Participants in the half marathon, 10-miler, 10K or 5K races are serenaded by carolers and treated to cookie aid stations along the course. Have your photo taken with the race mascot, Freddi the Yeti. The event takes place on Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Daimler Truck North America Campus, 4555 N. Channel Ave., on Swan Island (foottraffic.us).

PORTLAND SPIRIT — The Christmas Ships Parade is a big attraction on the Columbia and Willamette rivers, the Portland Spirit gets into the holiday, er, spirit. The Portland Spirit Christmas Ships Parade Dinner Cruises take place Dec. 9-11, Dec. 13 and Dec. 17-22, boarding at 6:30 p.m. and cruising from 7 to 9:30 p.m. (portlandspirit.com) and on the water to see all the cool Christmas ships. Departure point is 1010 S.W. Naito Pkwy.

JOHN LEGEND — Performing with a four-piece band, John Legend performs holiday classics such as “This Christmas,” “Silver Bells” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9 at Moda Center (rosequarter.com).