Seasonal

2015 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!

• 24th Annual Tuba Christmas Concert
  Sat Dec 12, 2015 1:30-3PM
• Alpenrose Storybook Lane
  Weekends, Dec 5-Dec 21, Fri 3-6PM, Sat-Sun 11AM-6PM
• 2015 Christmas Ship Parade
  Nightly, Dec 4-Dec 20th
• Lights on Peacock Lane
  Nightly, Dec 15-Dec 30 6PM-11PM
• Pittock Mansion Christmas
  Daily, Nov 23-Jan 02, 11AM-4PM
• Portland's Holiday Express
  Weekends, Nov 27-28, Dec 5-6, 13-14 & 19-20
• Oregon ZooLights
  Nightly, Nov 27-Jan 03, 5PM-8PM
• WinterWonderland at PIR
  Nightly, 5PM-9PM, Nov 26-Dec 27
• The Grotto: Festival of Lights
  Nightly, 5PM-9:30PM Nov 27-Dec 30th
• Aspen Meadows, Celebration of Lights
  Nightly, Dec 13-Dec 28 5PM-11PM
• More activities and events here!

24th Annual Tuba Christmas Concert Sat Dec 12, 2015 1:30-3PM, Pioneer Courthouse Square. Downtown will pulse with the melodic sounds of big brass as over 250 tubas play in unison for the 25nd Annual Tuba Christmas Concert in the heart of downtown. FREE! [Top]

Alpenrose Storybook Lane Weekends, Dec 5-Dec 21, 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]

2014 Christmas Ship Parade Nightly, Dec 5-Dec 21st, Columbia River and Willamette River. The Christmas Ship Fleet averages about 55 to 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 30 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 23-Jan 02, 11AM-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. Children six and under free. [Top]

Portland's Holiday Express Weekends, Nov 27-28, Dec 5-6, 13-14 & 19-20. 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 $19-$16 adult, $12.50-$9.50 children (under 12), $$58-$46 Family 4 pack. 40 minutes. Visit ORHF website for tickets. [Top]

Oregon ZooLights Nightly, Nov 27-Jan 03, 5PM-8PM, Oregon Zoo.It wouldn't be the holidays in Portland without a visit to ZooLights, returning this year with a new train route and a never-before-seen 1.5 million LED light experience. Adults $14.95/$9.95. Children (3-11) $9.95/$4.95. [Top]

WinterWonderland at PIR Nightly, 5PM-9PM, Nov 26-Dec 27, Portland Intl Raceway Recognized as the "Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi", the 23nd annual Winter Wonderland will grab your attention with glimmers and glows around every corner. $20 car. [Top]

The Grotto: Festival of Lights Nightly, 5PM-9:30PM Nov 27-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 $10. Children (3-12) $5 [Top]

Aspen Meadows, Celebration of Lights Nightly, Dec 13-Dec 28 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]

Enjoy the Solitude When: Thu Nov 05, 2015 9AM-5PM Where: Tualatin Hills Nature Park Meet at: Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pwy Gresham, OR Get Map!

The Tualatin Hills Nature Park is a 222-acre wildlife preserve in the heart of Beaverton. We will travel by MAX to start this 4.3-mile hike. After we arrive at the Merlo/158th Street Transit Center, we will walk .75 mile on a paved trail to the interpretive center to view the exhibits on the natural history of the area. Park restrooms are also located at the interpretive center. Please note that this will be the first opportunity to use restrooms after we leave Gresham City Hall. After we leave the interpretive center, we will follow a series of trails within the park, viewing a variety of evergreen and deciduous trees, wetlands, creeks, ponds, and meadows throughout the park, winding our way back to the MAX transit stop. After the hike, we will travel by MAX to the Beaverton Transit Center and then walk through a parking lot to have lunch at the Red Robin Restaurant. Bring an energy snack and water. Good walking shoes or hiking boots are recommended

• Round-trip travel: by MAX ($2.50 for those 65 and older)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Elevation gain: 85 feet

More info
Contact Doug or Dana Duval at 907-230-6543 or danakol24@aol.com.

Nebulae MHCC Planetarium website

Spooky Stellar Phantoms When: Tue Nov 03, 2015 Show Times: 6PM, 7:15PM Where: Mt Hood Community College Planetarium Sky Theater 26000 SE Stark St Gresham, OR Get Map!

Admission $5. MHCC students $2.
The Sky Theater is wheelchair accessible.

Spooky Stellar Phantoms
Join us for a tour of the night sky where you'll whiz through universe from the comfort of your seat! 2 shows starting at 6:00PM, 7:15PM.

The Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) Planetarium invites you enjoy another year of great public shows using their state-of-the-art digital star projection system.

Each show is presented under a realistic representation of the night sky, featuring the latest galactic, stellar and planetary images. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions during each program. Children are welcome to attend.

Awesome City Views When: Wed Nov 11, 2015 9:30AM-5PM Where: Tilikum Crossing, South Waterfront Meet at: Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pwy Gresham, OR Get Map!

This 3.5-mile walk begins when we arrive at the Lloyd Center. After a brief stop at the DoubleTree, we will walk a few blocks to catch the A Loop Trolley to cross the new Tilikum Bridge. We will then walk across both sides of the bridge before checking out the Willamette River from the new South Waterfront Greenway, which opened in May of this year. From here we will head to the Spaghetti Factory for lunch. On the way back to the bridge, we will pass through a garden park before catching the B Loop Trolley that takes us back to MAX lines near the Lloyd Center. Bring your camera, water, and snacks and wear comfortable walking shoes. Please purchase your “All Day” MAX ticket in advance of getting to the City Hall platform so that we can validate tickets and leave on time. Your “All Day” MAX ticket is also valid on the Portland trolley lines.

• Round-trip travel: By MAX ($2.50 for those 65 and older)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Elevation gain: Nominal

More Info
Contact Ruth Cummings at 503-926-4840 or cummings0465@frontier.com.

Beautiful Columbia Gorge When: Tue Nov 17, 2015 9AM-5PM Where: Dry Creek Falls Meet at: Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pwy Gresham, OR Get Map!

This is a 4.4-mile out-and-back hike in the Columbia River Gorge. This hike starts at the south end of the Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks, with part of the hike along a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail through old growth forest to a beautiful waterfall that was originally the source of water for the city. We will return on an old road through the town of Cascade Locks. Bring water, energy snacks, and a lunch to eat along the trail. Hiking boots and poles are recommended.

• Round-trip travel: 65 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Elevation gain: 700 feet
• Suggested donation per hiker: $8

More Info
Contact Bob Criteser at 503-807-1160 or bocr41@gmail.com.

Winter Sky MHCC Planetarium website

Winter (Sky) Is Coming When: Thu Nov 19, 2015 Show Times: 6PM, 7:15PM Where: Mt Hood Community College Planetarium Sky Theater 26000 SE Stark St Gresham, OR Get Map!

Admission $5. MHCC students $2.
The Sky Theater is wheelchair accessible.

Winter (Sky) Is Coming
Join us for a tour of the night sky where you'll whiz through universe from the comfort of your seat! 2 shows starting at 6:00PM, 7:15PM.

The Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) Planetarium invites you enjoy another year of great public shows using their state-of-the-art digital star projection system.

Each show is presented under a realistic representation of the night sky, featuring the latest galactic, stellar and planetary images. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions during each program. Children are welcome to attend.

After what seemed like an endless, hot summer, we’re all breathing a sigh of relief as temperatures are finally dropping—winter is just around the corner!

Fall’s here, and your comfortable, safe home awaits

By Stephanie Swanson, Enhabit.org

Before the cold sets in for good, fall is the perfect time to take some easy steps to make your home cozier, healthier and safe for this winter and beyond.

Watch your windows. Did you know your windows can help keep your home warm in the winter? Take advantage of the winter sun’s heat by opening south-facing curtains, drapes and blinds during the day, and then closing window coverings at night to keep the heat in. If you don’t have blinds or shades, consider installing them to reduce heat loss (they’ll also help keep your house cool next summer).

Lower the dial and get cozy. Keep your home 10 to 15 degrees cooler when you are not at home, and lower the temperature slightly at night to save energy. Nothing’s cozier than bundling up with blankets on a winter night!

Breathe easy. Many homes trap allergens and pollutants which affect indoor air quality and can seriously impact the whole family. Checking for radon and installing a carbon monoxide detector are two simple steps that will help everyone breathe more easily.

Get prepared. Back to school is a great time to take stock of emergency preparedness plans and supplies. It’s also a good time to ensure your home is prepared for what may come. Seismic “hardening” of your home helps keep your home secured during severe storms, high winds and earthquakes. It’s also a necessary first step if you’re looking to get earthquake insurance.

For more information about how to improve the comfort, health and safety of your home, visit Enhabit.org/neighborhood and take a quick online quiz, or if you’re ready – schedule a free in-home visit with an Enhabit-certified contractor. Our qualified contractors and easy financing are available for a variety of home upgrades including energy efficiency improvements, radon mitigation, seismic retrofits and solar energy installations.

Absolutely A Must See! When: Thu Oct 01, 2015 8:30AM-5PM Where: Beacon Rock and Rodney Falls Meet at: Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pwy Gresham, OR Get Map!

Beacon Rock State Park is the site of two popular trails just off Highway 14 on the Washington side of the Columbia River. The first is an approximately two-mile round-trip stair-climb to the top of Beacon Rock. This familiar landmark in the Gorge is an 848-foot-high block of basalt that has great views of the Columbia river along the many switchbacks of the trail all the way to the top. The second is just across the highway on the Hamilton Mountain trail and is approximately 2.5-mile round-trip to Rodney Falls, which is a hike through a second-growth Douglas fir forest to a couple of picturesque falls. Bring a snack, water and lunch to eat along the trail. While comfortable walking shoes are appropriate for Beacon Rock, hiking boots are recommended for the Rodney Falls trail.

• Round-trip travel: 80 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate/difficult
• Elevation gain: Beacon Rock - 300 feet; Rodney Falls - 600 feet
• Suggested donation per hiker: $8

The parking for this hike requires a $10 Washington Discover Pass. The Bridge of the Gods toll is $2 each way, so in addition to the $8 rider donation, these extra expenses will be shared among the number of riders per car.

More Info
Contact Karen or Bob Holman at 503-661-7010.

Farm Fresh Produce! When: Friday May 29-Oct 30 3PM-7PM Where: Plaza del Sol 18535 S.E. Stark St Gresham OR Get map!

The Rockwood Farmers Market is a community-focused market featuring fresh produce from local farms in a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere. WIC, SNAP and Farm Direct coupons are accepted. Use your EBT funds at the market and we'll match the first $5 so you have even more money to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables to bring home! The Market is a collaboration of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s Interfaith Food & Farms Partnership and the Rockwood Co-op.

Visit the Rockwood Farmers Market website or Facebook page.