Holiday Happenings: It’s a countdown to Christmas, and here’s what to do for festive fun

Published 12:15 am Sunday, December 15, 2024

It’s prime holiday time, and the events and attractions in the Portland area are going strong as we head toward Christmas. Here are some upcoming happenings, followed by some ongoing events/attractions to take in:

NEW HAPPENINGS

OREGON SYMPHONY — The symphony’s holiday season of shows at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall features “Holiday Brass,” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, a heartwarming and joyful concert with a mix of classical and popular holiday favorites, as well as “A Charlie Brown Christmas — Live!,” 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, featuring live actors playing Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and the entire “Peanuts” gang and there’ll also be an animated backdrop, and Vince Guaraldi’s timeless music performed live by the symphony (orsymphony.org).

PORTLAND WINTER MARKET — Lloyd Center once again welcomes the Portland Winter Market, featuring more than 100 local vendors and artisans selling their wares, Thursday, Dec. 19 through Sunday, Dec. 22, from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. each day. Check out the event’s Instagram page for more.

‘A DRUNK CHRISTMAS CAROL’ — Experience Theatre Project presents “A Drunk Christmas Carol,” a two-night show — part scripted, part improvised, with an assist from alcohol — and fundraiser at 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 20-21 at Brunish Theatre. There’ll be beverages, a raffle and ugly sweater contest (experiencetheatreproject.org).

TUBA CHRISTMAS CONCERT — It’s a sight (and sound) to behold, and it returns at 1:30- 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21. The Tuba Christmas Concert features nearly 300 tubas playing holiday favorites in unison at Pioneer Courthouse Square (thesquarepdx.org).

LESBIAN CHOIR — The Portland Lesbian Choir puts on its “Coming Out Of The Dark” concert 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22 at Parkrose Performing Arts Theater, 12003 N.E. Shaver St. (plchoir.org).

‘ELVISES OF FROSTLAND’ — 3 Leg Torso presents “The Elvises of Frostland,” a musical event about elves (played by band members) assisting a “large, mysterious man” in an isolated cabin and surviving by playing their musical instruments through the toy-building season, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 at Alberta Rose Theatre (albertarosetheatre.com). Special guests are Pepe Raphael, Mark Orton, Norman Sylvester, Leapin’ Louie, Shoehorn, Bernardo Gomez and The Next Generation.

‘STUMPTOWN SOUL’ — An all-star cast of Portland blues, jazz, rock and roll and soul musicians (including LaRhonda Steele, Norman Sylvester and Arietta Ward and many more) light up the Alberta Rose Theatre stage with a celebration of the holiday season, “Stumptown Soul,” 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22 (albertarose theatre.com).

ONGOING ATTRACTIONS

ZOOLIGHTS — One of the most popular holiday attractions, Oregon ZooLights, showcases dazzling life-size animal silhouettes, forests of lighted trees and rides on the zoo train through Jan. 5. This year’s ZooLights also features installations from local artists and makers, including an interactive light-up jellyfish from Ron Smith (“OctoEyes”), 3D LED stars from Charmed Machine and a moving wall of linear light tubes from Colton Nye (oregonzoo.org/lights).

PEACOCK LANE — It’s a huge Portland tradition: Going to see the decorated Southeast Portland houses on Peacock Lane via walking or driving, with openings from 6-11 p.m. each night through Dec. 31. Some nights (Dec. 15-17) are closed to cars. It’s located off Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard between Stark and Belmont streets (peacocklane.org).

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. through Dec. 22 (christmasships.org).

PITTOCK MANSION — In Portland’s West Hills, the Pittock Mansion, 3229 N.W. Pittock Dr., shows off its decorated with Christmas trees, music and cheer. The “Home for the Holidays” decorations has the theme of “Holiday Classics”; they provide glimpses of a variety of holiday celebrations such as “A Christmas Tea Party,” “A White Christmas,” “A Tropical Christmas,” “A Tribute to the Royal Women of Versailles,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Holiday Bridal Bunch,” “A Hawaiian Christmas,” “Classic French Christmas Eve” and more. Tour the decorated mansion rooms and Gate Lodge till Jan. 9 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (pittockmansion.org).

WINTER WONDERLAND — The “Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi,” Winter Wonderland at Portland International Raceway offers more than 250 colorful light set pieces and many fully animated scenes that can be enjoyed from your vehicle. Winter Wonderland runs from 4:30 p.m.-11 p.m. each day through Dec. 31, at PIR (winter wonderlandportland.com).

THE GROTTO — Explore a decorated garden with holiday lights at The Grotto Christmas Festival of Lights, 8840 N.E. Skidmore St. There’ll be puppet shows, choral performances and indoor concerts each evening in The Grotto’s 600-seat chapel. It’s open through Dec. 30, except on Christmas Day (thegrotto.org).

ONGOING EVENTS

PORTLAND REVELS — Featuring music in eight different languages, and marking the 30th year of celebrating the shortest day of the year and the return of light to dark of winter, Portland Revels puts on “Norse Fire — A Celebration of the Solstice,” through Dec. 22 at Alberta Abbey, 126 N.E. Alberta St. (portlandrevels.org). There’ll be song, story and dance from the northernmost reaches of Europe, and gorgeous scenery as a backdrop. The story: Upon discovering that her grandfather is close to death, Astrid and the Norse God Jolnir set off on a journey through time and space to save him; Astrid’s perspective shifts as she realizes that perhaps Grandfather isn’t the one who needs saving.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’ — Attend Charles Dickens’ holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” about miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and three ghosts at Portland Playhouse, 602 N.E. Prescott St. It’s the 17th season of “A Christmas Carol” at Portland Playhouse. Join the spirits who guide Scrooge through a transformative journey toward love through Dec. 29 (portland playhouse.org).

MICHAEL ALLEN HARRISON — The Portland musician Michael Allen Harrison hosts many holiday concerts (usually with Julianne Johnson), the big ones take place at The Old Church (michael allenharrison.com). “Christmas at the Old Church” includes 7:30 p.m. and afternoon shows, through Dec. 24.

‘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,” through Dec. 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).

PORTLAND SPIRIT — The Christmas Ships Parade is a big attraction on the Columbia and Willamette rivers, and the Portland Spirit also gets into the holiday, er, spirit. The Portland Spirit Christmas Ships Parade Dinner Cruises conclude Dec. 18-22, boarding at 6:30 p.m. and cruising from 7 to 9:30 p.m. (portlandspirit.com) on the water to see all the cool Christmas ships. Departure point is 1010 S.W. Naito Pkwy.

LIBERACE, LIZA — The cabaret-style show “Liberace & Liza: Holiday at the Mansion,” starring David Saffert and Jillian Snow, has been entertaining audiences and continues through Dec. 22 at The Armory (pcs.org).

‘FIVE GOLDEN RINGS’ — “Five Golden Rings: A Greeting Card Channel Holiday Musical” runs through Dec. 22 at the Broadway Rose New Stage, 12850 S.W. Grant Ave. in Tigard. It follows Holly, a big-city executive who gets snowed in at a Vermont bed and breakfast and begins to fall for its charming owner (broadwayrose.org/five-golden-rings).

HOLIDAY EXPRESS — The annual Holiday Express train rides go through Jan. 4 at Oregon Rail Heritage Center, 2250 S.E. Water Ave. (orhf.org). Departure times vary every day from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. It’s a 45-minute round trip aboard a decorated steam train, and you’re invited to Santa’s Enginehouse, where sparkling decorations and treats await.

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’ — Stumptown Stages puts on the holiday classic about a man who discovers what life would be like had he not existed and then experiences the riches of community, staging it through Dec. 22 (mostly 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays) at Winningstad Theatre (stumptownstages.org).

‘RUDOLPH’ — Northwest Children’s Theater puts on the holiday classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” through Dec. 29 at The Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts in downtown Portland. It’s a musical adaptation of the beloved television special about the reindeer who searched for acceptance and ended up leading Santa’s sleigh (nwcts.org).

CINNAMON BEAR — Cinnamon Bear Breakfast Cruise aboard the Portland Spirit returns with cruises Saturdays-Sundays, through Dec. 27 (as well as Dec. 23-24, Dec. 26-27), starting at Salmon Springs Dock, 1010 S.W Naito Pkwy. Cinnamon Bear and his friends from Maybeland are back for their 20th anniversary (portlandspirit.com/cinnamonbear).