December Events

During the final month of the year, Portland overflows with seasonal events and activities. Celebrate the holiday season with special shopping events, light displays and festivities; then ring in the New Year at one of the city’s many Jan. 31 events. Read on for some of our top picks for December events in Portland, or search our full events calendar to see everything on offer.

Holiday Ale Festival

Packed with revelry and cheer, the five-day Holiday Ale Festival (always held the first week of December) features dozens of the Pacific Northwest’s best-tasting seasonal suds, many not available anywhere else. Held underneath a cozy, heated tent at Pioneer Courthouse Square, the Ale Festival invites local brewers to collaborate on special editions beers. Ranging from decadent stouts to light, hoppy IPAs, the one-of-a-kind brews range from classic to funky.

Holiday Light Displays

Some of Portland’s bright spots include ZooLights, a display of more than a million lights at the Oregon Zoo and the Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto. The Christmas Ships Parade, going strong since 1954, features brilliantly decorated boats on the Willamette and Columbia rivers.

Holiday Traditions

Portland gets into the spirit of the season with festive decorations at Pittock Mansion, a gingerbread display at the Benson Hotel and the Festival of Trees at the Oregon Convention Center. Annual performance traditions include Handel’s Messiah from Portland Baroque Orchestra and The Most Wonderful Season from Portland Gay Men’s Chorus.

December Highlights

Explore more things to do and see in December in Portland.

More Winter Events

Portland Holiday Events

Like an Advent calendar loaded with sugary treats, the days leading up to Christmas in Portland hold an abundance of sweet memories.

Portland’s Holiday Ale Festival

The Holiday Ale Festival, set beneath the region’s largest decorated holiday tree, returns every year with more than 50 big, bold beers designed to keep revelers warm on cold winter nights.

Holiday Shopping Events

Do your holiday shopping for locally made gifts at hip parties, makers' fairs, sprawling sales and garden grounds filled with handcrafted items.

Holiday Light Displays in Portland

Portland is full of bright ways to embrace the shorter days of winter; here are some of the stars in the city’s constellation of holiday light displays.

New Year’s Eve Events in Portland

When the clock strikes midnight, you could be dancing to bhangra beats, running through downtown or indulging in chocolate and Champagne.