Christmas Lights Around the City
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Christmas in Portland is a time for many spectacular displays of twinkling lights throughout the city. One of the most well known celebrations of Christmas is The Festival of Lights at the Grotto.
From November 4th to December 30th, the grounds of the Grotto are transformed into a breathtaking festival of Christmas splendor. The tradition began in 1988 and “welcomes all who seek the true spirit and meaning of Christmas”. In addition to the wonderful lights, there are hourly music concerts, outdoor caroling and other family oriented entertainment. The grotto features magnificent architecture, towering Douglas fir trees and an angel-covered Cliff in the background. The Grotto welcomes 60,000 visitors to the annual Festival of Lights. 5-9:30 pm every evening from Nov. 4 through Dec. 30. Located at NE 82nd Avenue and Sandy Boulevard. Portland, OR. (503) 254-7948.
The Christmas Tree at Pioneer Square:
Oregon is the leading producer of Christmas trees in the world and each Christmas season, downtown Portland’s Pioneer Square becomes the home to one of Oregon’s choice 70-foot trees.
Christmas Ship Parade:ioneer Square, known as Portland’s living room, is a huge all-brick, multi-tiered plaza and is at the very heart of Portland’s busy downtown shopping district. Each year, just before Thanksgiving, the city puts up the huge tree and a tree-lighting ceremony is held on the Friday evening after Thanksgiving. The massive tree becomes aglow with a multitude of colorful lights. The towering lighted tree at Pioneer Square is Portland’s sign that Christmas is coming. You can see the lighted tree at SW Sixth and Broadway, Portland, OR.
One of the most exciting and spectacular displays of Christmas lights in Portland are the ships that parade up and down the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. This year marks the event’s 52nd year. The Christmas Ship Fleet has about 60 boats divided between the two rivers. Both fleets will be out every night for two weeks from December 7 to December 20 this year. The boats begin their show nightly at 7:00 PM.
Each skipper designs and builds his own lighted Christmas display and pays the operating costs. As skippers retire, they hand down their well-known displays to continue the tradition. New ships also join each year. For Portlanders, tradition packs the restaurants along the two rivers. Many are booked a year in advance. In addition, thousands of viewers line the banks of both rivers to watch the parade. Watching the Christmas Ship Parade is a favorite Portland family Christmas tradition.
Zoolights and Train Ride
Another fun family tradition is Zoolights. Each Christmas season the Oregon Zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland, aglow with nearly a million lights. More than 200 animated lighted animals swing through trees, crouch in the bushes and appear in surprise places. Coral and ensemble music, puppet shows and a model train display are also part of the celebration. The Zoo Train, the “Oregon”, a Steam Locomotive built in 1959 and ablaze in colorful decoration itself, chugs, whistles, and carries passengers through the lighted displays. Zoolights and the Zoo Train runs from December 2-31 from 5-8 pm. The Oregon Zoo is located at 4001 SW Canyon Rd. Portland, OR.
Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show-Portland International Raceway
The Portland International Raceway (P.I.R.) becomes a Winter spectacle of lights each year with special event nights planned throughout the holiday season. From November 23 through January 1, cars and buses full of excited spectators drive slowly around P.I.R. to view the dazzling holiday lights. There are over 250 colorful displays and 40 fully animated scenes. This light display is recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest as the “Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi” and has been grabbing attention with glimmers and glows around every corner since 1993. A sensational new display this year is the Tunnel of Lights, a 200-foot tunnel of lights that transports visitors to distant and magical lands. A journey through this Winter
Wonderland has become a Holiday tradition for many Portlanders and their out-of-town guests. P.I.R. is located off exit 306B on I-5, seven miles north of downtown Portland, OR. Hours are 5-10 PM weekdays, 5-11 PM weekends.
Peacock Lane
Peacock Lane is, no doubt, the most well-known Christmas tradition in Portland. Located between SE Stark St. and SE Belmont St. one block east of SE 39th, Portland, OR, is beautiful Peacock Lane. Open between December 15-30, this quaint southeast neighborhood has been decorating for Christmas since the 1920′s. Mostly Tudors, the homes are adorned with sparkling lights, nativity scenes, rotating Christmas trees, and Santa, and Frosty life-like replicas. This is an extremely popular Portland tradition and the crowds get thick, as does the waiting line for cars to drive slowly through the area sans headlights. Walking or taking a horse-drawn carriage ride through the magical land of twinkling lights is the best way to see this spectacular display of Christmas lights and join in the merriment of the season.
Enjoy this Christmas Season!
From November 4th to December 30th, the grounds of the Grotto are transformed into a breathtaking festival of Christmas splendor. The tradition began in 1988 and “welcomes all who seek the true spirit and meaning of Christmas”. In addition to the wonderful lights, there are hourly music concerts, outdoor caroling and other family oriented entertainment. The grotto features magnificent architecture, towering Douglas fir trees and an angel-covered Cliff in the background. The Grotto welcomes 60,000 visitors to the annual Festival of Lights. 5-9:30 pm every evening from Nov. 4 through Dec. 30. Located at NE 82nd Avenue and Sandy Boulevard. Portland, OR. (503) 254-7948.
The Christmas Tree at Pioneer Square:
Oregon is the leading producer of Christmas trees in the world and each Christmas season, downtown Portland’s Pioneer Square becomes the home to one of Oregon’s choice 70-foot trees.
Christmas Ship Parade:ioneer Square, known as Portland’s living room, is a huge all-brick, multi-tiered plaza and is at the very heart of Portland’s busy downtown shopping district. Each year, just before Thanksgiving, the city puts up the huge tree and a tree-lighting ceremony is held on the Friday evening after Thanksgiving. The massive tree becomes aglow with a multitude of colorful lights. The towering lighted tree at Pioneer Square is Portland’s sign that Christmas is coming. You can see the lighted tree at SW Sixth and Broadway, Portland, OR.
One of the most exciting and spectacular displays of Christmas lights in Portland are the ships that parade up and down the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. This year marks the event’s 52nd year. The Christmas Ship Fleet has about 60 boats divided between the two rivers. Both fleets will be out every night for two weeks from December 7 to December 20 this year. The boats begin their show nightly at 7:00 PM.
Each skipper designs and builds his own lighted Christmas display and pays the operating costs. As skippers retire, they hand down their well-known displays to continue the tradition. New ships also join each year. For Portlanders, tradition packs the restaurants along the two rivers. Many are booked a year in advance. In addition, thousands of viewers line the banks of both rivers to watch the parade. Watching the Christmas Ship Parade is a favorite Portland family Christmas tradition.
Zoolights and Train Ride
Another fun family tradition is Zoolights. Each Christmas season the Oregon Zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland, aglow with nearly a million lights. More than 200 animated lighted animals swing through trees, crouch in the bushes and appear in surprise places. Coral and ensemble music, puppet shows and a model train display are also part of the celebration. The Zoo Train, the “Oregon”, a Steam Locomotive built in 1959 and ablaze in colorful decoration itself, chugs, whistles, and carries passengers through the lighted displays. Zoolights and the Zoo Train runs from December 2-31 from 5-8 pm. The Oregon Zoo is located at 4001 SW Canyon Rd. Portland, OR.
Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show-Portland International Raceway
The Portland International Raceway (P.I.R.) becomes a Winter spectacle of lights each year with special event nights planned throughout the holiday season. From November 23 through January 1, cars and buses full of excited spectators drive slowly around P.I.R. to view the dazzling holiday lights. There are over 250 colorful displays and 40 fully animated scenes. This light display is recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest as the “Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi” and has been grabbing attention with glimmers and glows around every corner since 1993. A sensational new display this year is the Tunnel of Lights, a 200-foot tunnel of lights that transports visitors to distant and magical lands. A journey through this Winter
Wonderland has become a Holiday tradition for many Portlanders and their out-of-town guests. P.I.R. is located off exit 306B on I-5, seven miles north of downtown Portland, OR. Hours are 5-10 PM weekdays, 5-11 PM weekends.
Peacock LanePeacock Lane is, no doubt, the most well-known Christmas tradition in Portland. Located between SE Stark St. and SE Belmont St. one block east of SE 39th, Portland, OR, is beautiful Peacock Lane. Open between December 15-30, this quaint southeast neighborhood has been decorating for Christmas since the 1920′s. Mostly Tudors, the homes are adorned with sparkling lights, nativity scenes, rotating Christmas trees, and Santa, and Frosty life-like replicas. This is an extremely popular Portland tradition and the crowds get thick, as does the waiting line for cars to drive slowly through the area sans headlights. Walking or taking a horse-drawn carriage ride through the magical land of twinkling lights is the best way to see this spectacular display of Christmas lights and join in the merriment of the season.
Enjoy this Christmas Season!
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