Holiday Light Displays in Portland
As the days grow darker, Portland glows with eye-popping light displays.
Portland is full of bright ways to embrace the shorter days of winter: hundreds of thousands of lights in our neighborhoods, our waters and plenty of spots in between. Here are some of the stars in the city’s constellation of holiday light displays:
The Winter Wonderland at Portland International Raceway is one of the largest holiday light shows in the Northwest.
The first twinkles come as the Winter Wonderland at the Portland International Raceway kicks off the season with one of the largest holiday light shows in the Northwest. Grab some hot chocolate and drive (or walk or bike) through the more than 250 spectacular light pieces set up along the racetrack.
Next, the Oregon Zoo switches on ZooLights. This family favorite is a unique opportunity to see the zoo after hours and all aglow. ZooLights features carolers, bright trees and all sorts of animals (real and animatronic) — all illuminated with 1.5 million LED lights. (For the 21-and-over crowd, the zoo also hosts BrewLights, a kid-free evening to enjoy ZooLights and dozens of local beer, cider and seltzer vendors to sample from.)
At The Grotto in Northeast Portland, the Christmas Festival of Lights uses more than 500,000 lights and 150 choral performances to share the spirit at at the internationally renowned Catholic shrine. People of all faiths are welcome to the 62-acre park that features a rock cave carved into the base of a 110-foot cliff.
Some of Portland’s other natural wonders, the Columbia and Willamette rivers, also shine this season with the Christmas Ships Parade. This long-running tradition sees around 60 festively decorated boats floating on the area’s waterways nightly, delighting shore-bound onlookers in local hotels and restaurants. The entirely volunteer-run event has been lighting smiles since 1954.
The residents of Southeast Portland’s Peacock Lane have had the holiday glow since the 1920s. Every year from Dec. 15-31, houses on the street break out the twinkle lights and welcome onlookers with the season’s brightest greetings. The first three nights, the lane is closed off to car traffic — because nothing makes the season bright like a well-lit holiday stroll.
Portland Holiday Events
Portland's Holiday Light Displays
ZooLights
As you walk around the zoo, you’ll see a dazzling display of more than 1.5 million lights and experience the zoo in a whole new way. In addition to visiting elephants, mountain goats and other wildlife, you can ride the popular lighted train and carousel, and enjoy hot drinks and local food carts. Photos with…
The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights
Presenting the sights, sounds and sensations of the season, The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights is the largest Christmas choral festival in the world. The festival features nearly 160 indoor holiday concerts performed by many of the region’s finest school, church and civic choirs. Offering a family-oriented blend of traditional celebration and serene reflection, the…
Winter Wonderland
Recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest 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. Since 1993, a journey through Winter Wonderland has become a holiday tradition for many families, friends, and social organizations to celebrate the spirit of…
Christmas Ship Parade
The Christmas Ship Parade started in 1954 with one lone sailboat from Portland Yacht Club. Bows of green with some ribbon where tied along the rails and it paraded on the rivers. The next year the parade started to grow Today, the Christmas Ship Fleet averages about 55 to 60 boats between the Columbia and…
Peacock Lane
Each house in this quaint Southeast neighborhood has been decorating for Christmas for decades. Mostly Tudors, the houses are adorned with not only beautiful sparkling lights, but also nativity scenes, rotating Christmas trees and stunningly life-like replicas of Santa and Frosty. Come see the lights on Peacock Lane and you’ll find nothing but good, old-fashioned…