Leisure

2018 Holiday Activities

Looking for fun things to do with family or friends? Revel in the holiday spirit with these events and activities. Be sure to check-out our last link for an extensive list of Holiday happenings!

• 28th Annual Tuba Christmas Concert
  Sat Dec 08, 2018 1:30-3PM
• Alpenrose Storybook Lane
  Weekends, Nov 30-Dec 16, Fri 3-6PM, Sat-Sun 11AM-6PM
• 2016 Christmas Ship Parade
  Nightly, Nov 30-Dec 20 (Various times)
• Lights on Peacock Lane
  Nightly, Dec 15-Dec 31 6PM-11PM
• Pittock Mansion Christmas
  Daily, Nov 19-Dec 31, 10AM-4PM
• Portland's Holiday Express Get Your Tickets Early!
  Weekends, Nov 23-24, Dec 1-2, Dec 8-9, Dec 15-16
• Oregon ZooLights
  Nightly, Nov 21-Jan 05, 5PM-9PM
• WinterWonderland at PIR
  Nightly, 5PM-11PM, Nov 23-Dec 26
• The Grotto: Festival of Lights
  Nightly, 5PM-9:30PM Nov 23-Dec 30th
• Aspen Meadows, Celebration of Lights
  Nightly, Dec 08-Dec 26 5PM-11PM

• More activities and events here!

28th Annual Tuba Christmas Concert   Sat Dec 08, 2018 1:30-3PM, Pioneer Courthouse Square. Downtown will pulse with the melodic sounds of big brass as nearly 300 tubas play in unison for the 28th Annual Tuba Christmas Concert in the heart of downtown. FREE! [Top]

Alpenrose Storybook Lane   Weekends, Nov 30-Dec 16, Fri 3-6PM, Sat-Sun 11AM-6PM, 6149 SW Shattuck. A family tradition for more than fifty years. Alpenrose's old western town is transformed into a winter wonderland in nostalgic Storybook Lane. Visit with Santa. Bring a donation for Oregon Food Bank. FREE! [Top]

2018 Christmas Ship Parade   Nightly, Nov 30-Dec 20 (See schedule for locations & times), Columbia River and Willamette River. The Christmas Ship Fleet averages 60+ boats between the two Columbia River and Willamette River fleets. Both fleets will be out most every night. Visit the website for schedule details. FREE! [Top]

Lights on Peacock Lane   Nightly, Dec 15-Dec 31 6PM-11PM, SE 40th & Stark. Since the 1920s, each house on Peacock Lane has been decorating for Christmas. Tudors style houses are adorned with sparkling lights, nativity scenes, rotating Christmas trees plus Santa, Frosty and the gang. FREE! [Top]

Pittock Mansion Christmas   Daily, Nov 20-Dec 31, 10AM-4PM, Pittock Mansion, 3229 NW Pittock Home to Portland pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock, pioneer owners of the Oregonian newpaper, this beautiful mansion is decorated will all the splendor of the holiday season. Adults $11. 6-18 $8. Under 6 free. [Top]

Portland's Holiday Express   Get Your Tickets Early! Weekends 10AM-8PM, Nov 23-24, Dec 1-2, Dec 8-9, Dec 15-16. Holiday Express trains leave from the Oaks Station at Oaks Amusement Park. Join Santa on a steam powered railroad adventure along the scenic Willamette River. Tickets $18-$21.50 adult, $15-$11.50 children (under 12), $54-$68 Family 4 pack. 40 minutes. Visit ORHF website for tickets. [Top]

Oregon ZooLights   Nightly, Nov 21-Jan 05, 5PM-9PM, Oregon Zoo.It wouldn't be the holidays in Portland without a visit to ZooLights, returning this year train rides and over a 1.5 million LED light experience. Adults $17.95/$12.95. Children (3-11) $12.95/$7.95. [Top]

WinterWonderland at PIR   Nightly, 5PM-11PM, Nov 23-Dec 26, Portland Intl Raceway Recognized as the "Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi", the 26th annual Winter Wonderland will grab your attention with glimmers and glows around every corner. Over 250 lighted pieces. $20/car. [Top]

The Grotto: Festival of Lights   Nightly, 5PM-9:30PM Nov 23-Dec 30th, 8840 NE Skidmore 500,000 lights, 150 performances, petting zoo, carolers and more. The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights is the largest Christmas choral festival in the world. Adult $12. Children (3-12) $6 [Top]

Aspen Meadows, Celebration of Lights   Nightly, Dec 08-Dec 26 5PM-11PM, , 24232 S. Upper Highland Rd, 150,000 lights, carolers, interactive children’s area,miniature train village, warm refreshments and more. Oregon Food Bank donations accepted. FREE! [Top]

Free Workshop! Getting Weeds Under Control" When: Thu Nov 08, 2018 6PM-8:30PM Where: St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church 17405 NE Glisan St Gresham OR Get Map!

Weeds – we all have them. Come learn how to identify the most common garden and landscape weeds along with some of the other more notorious plant invaders of the region. We will walk you through how these aggressive plants take over in your yard and provide some simple yet effective tips that will help you get the upper hand without turning to synthetic herbicides.

REGISTER HERE

Sponsored by East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District. https://emswcd.org

Serving warm food, warm smiles

Happy Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on everything you’ve been given, and be grateful for all that you have.

Take the time to give thanks for all that’s good in your life -- and give to others who may not share the same good fortune this Thanksgiving.

Give from the heart

Help brighten the holiday for someone in need.

• Donate time or money to a local charity or food pantry
• Donate a Thanksgiving basket to a neighbor in need
• Volunteer at a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter
• Deliver Thanksgiving meals to housebound seniors

Volunteer this holiday, and share the season!

Have a safe Thanksgiving weekend.

		Simple Solution. Big Reward. After big holiday meals, no one likes to be stuck doing the clean-up. But if you aren't careful with leftover gravy, pan drip-pings and sauces a grease-clogged drain could ruin your holiday and cost you a bundle.

When fats, oils and grease are poured down the drain, they stick to the inside of pipes causing messy sewer backups and expensive cleanup and repair.

The solution:
Pour the grease into a can, freeze it, and toss the can in the trash!

Let's Hoop It Up! When: Fri, Nov 23, 2018 6PM-10PM Where: H.B. Lee Middle School 1121 NE 172nd Ave. Get Map!

Middle school and high school youth can attend free basketball practice, skill building and game play on Friday nights at H.B. Lee Middle School, 1121 NE 172nd Ave.

• Open to boys and girls in grades 6-12
• Learn new skills, make new friends, play basketball.
• Adult supervision and mentorship provided by the Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC).
• Sponsored by the City of Gresham.

Schedule

• 6-8 p.m. for grades 6-8
• 8-10 p.m. for grades 9-12

Registration form

For more information, visit our basketball page or contact Coach Michael Magnum at 503-975-2929.

Portland 34th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Pioneer Courthouse Square: Fri Nov 23, 2018 5:30PM-6:30PM

Come and Join the Fun! When: Fri, Nov 23, 2018 5PM-6:30PM Where: Pioneer Courthouse Square 701 SW 6th Ave Portland, OR Get Map!

The day after Thanksgiving, thousands of Portlanders will gather at the Square to celebrate the lighting of the spectacular 75' Douglas-fir tree provided by Stimson Lumber Company.

Join us for a community sing-a-long curated by Portland’s own Thomas Lauderdale, with members of Pink Martini and friends. Limited edition holiday songbooks will be available at the event or for download on our website. Pre-show entertainment begins at 5pm.

With a big tree, over 14,000 colorful lights and Portland’s largest community sing-a-long, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Strobe lights will be used during this event.

Let's Hoop It Up! When: Sat, Nov 24, 2018 8PM-12 am Where: Friends of the Children 424 NE 172nd Ave. Get Map!

Middle school and high school youth can attend free basketball practice, skill building and game play on Friday nights at Friends of the Children at 424 NE 172nd Ave.

• Open to boys and girls in grades 6-12
• Learn new skills, make new friends, play basketball.
• Adult supervision and mentorship provided by the Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC).
• Sponsored by the City of Gresham.

Schedule

• 8:00 - 10:00 pm for grades 6-8
• 10:00 pm - 12:00 am for grades 9-12

Registration form

For more information, visit our basketball page or contact Coach Michael Magnum at 503-975-2929.

Come and Join the Fun! When: Sat, Nov 24, 2018 9AM-4PM Where: SALT Academy 333 N. Main Avenue Get Map!

Join SALT Academy and partners for The Spirit of Christmas Holiday Bazaar.

Activities will include:

• Free pancake breakfast with Scrooge. All donations benefiting SnowCap Community Charities and made possible by event sponsor Gresham Ford.
• Free gift wrapping
• Free letters to Santa (presented to Santa The Spirit of Christmas tree-lighting that evening).
• A table for children to make keepsake gifts for their parents, $5 and under.
• Hot cocoa bar and cookies for sale.
• Characters and carolers from SALT's upcoming production, "A Christmas Carol."

And many more fun activities to get you and the family into the Christmas spirit.

For more information about this event, contact Harvest moorman at 503-504-4026 or harvest@saltacademy.com.

When: Sat, Nov 24, 2018 4PM-6PM Where: Historic Downtown Gresham Get Map!

The Gresham-Barlow Education Foundation is adding another fun, family-friendly element to this year's Spirit of Christmas a cocoa crawl.

The Cocoa Crawl will begin at 4:00 pm and will involve nine Gresham businesses in and around the downtown area. The final "Sip Stop" will be at the Arts Plaza with ServPro serving hot cocoa to everyone gathered for the City of Gresham's 27th annual tree lighting event.

Cocoa Crawl participants must purchase a $10 commemorative mug and will be provided with a map of Sip Stops. This mug allows you to enjoy a serving of hot cocoa, another hot beverage or small treat at 9 downtown Gresham businesses. Several businesses are also offering a special discount for cocoa crawlers.

You can purchase mugs for $10 at: Burns Feed Store, Core Coffee, Accent on Attitude, Glass Butterfly, Gresham Ford or by contacting the Gresham Barlow Education Foundation at 503-766-0008. Only 200 mugs are available and they are selling quickly so don't delay.

For more information please see the event brochure, which includes a map of sip-stops.

Participating businesses include:

1. Core Coffee
2. Glass Butterfly
3. All About Kids Resale
4. Accent on Attitude
5. Off the Charts Games
6. Books Around the Corner
7. Maggie Mae's Kids Bookshop
8. Boccelli's Ristorante
9. Party Surprise

The final stop is with ServPro at the Arts Plaza at 6:00 pm for the tree lighting event.

For more information about this event, contact Vicki Moen at 503-766-0008 or info@gbefkids.org.

Come and Join the Fun! When: Sat, Nov 24, 2018 5PM-6:30PM Where: Arts Plaza 401 NE Second St. Get Map!

The 27th Annual Spirit of Christmas tree lighting one of the communitys most popular events rings in Greshams holiday season with a family-friendly program that includes music, photos with Santa, refreshments and the lighting of the 60-foot Ponderosa pine on the Arts Plaza.

Watch for fun activities beforehand in Historic Downtown in the afternoon leading up to the tree lighting festivities on the Arts Plaza.

For more information, contact Event Coordinator Shannon Chisom at Shannon.Chisom@gmail.com or 503-750-3785.

Read more about the Spirit of Christmas event.