Holiday Lights in Portland
The light displays Portland lines up for every year — when they usually run, where, and what they cost — then every lights event on the PDX Events calendars this season (12 so far).
Updated November 1, 2026
Portland holiday traditions
Dates change a little every year — check each one's site before you go.
- ZooLights
Oregon Zoo, Washington Park · SW
Nightly from 4:30 PM, Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 (closed Nov 24–26 and Dec 25). 21+ BrewLights Nov 13–14; Adult Nights Jan 1–2
The Oregon Zoo's walk-through light show — millions of lights across the zoo grounds, plus the lit-up zoo train. Dated tickets (about $13–35) sell out on peak nights.
- Peacock Lane
SE Peacock Lane, between SE Stark and SE Belmont · SE
Nightly Dec 15–31, 2026, from 6 PM (pedestrian-only Dec 15–16)
A whole block of Tudor-style houses decked out for the holidays, a Portland tradition for more than 90 years. Free.
- The Grotto's Christmas Festival of Lights
The Grotto, NE Sandy Blvd · NE
Evenings, usually from the day after Thanksgiving (Nov 27, 2026) through Dec 30, closed Christmas Day
Hundreds of thousands of lights across the Grotto's gardens, with choirs, concerts and a petting zoo. Ticketed.
- Christmas Ships Parade
Willamette and Columbia rivers
24 evenings, Nov 27 – Dec 20, 2026 — separate Willamette (RiverPlace Marina) and Columbia (Gleason boat ramp) fleets Dec 7–9, 11 and 15–18; combined fleet the other nights
A fleet of decorated boats sails the Willamette and Columbia after dark — a Portland tradition since 1954. Free to watch from the riverbanks; check the schedule for the night's route.
- Winter Wonderland
Portland International Raceway · N Portland
Nightly Nov 27 – Dec 31, 2026: Mon–Thu 5–10 PM, Fri–Sun 4:30–11 PM (4:30–11 PM every night Dec 16–25)
A drive-through light show around the PIR racetrack. Tickets are per vehicle.
- Pioneer Courthouse Square Tree Lighting
Pioneer Courthouse Square, downtown · Downtown
Usually the evening after Thanksgiving (Fri, Nov 27, 2026, if it holds)
The lighting of the Square's 75-foot tree kicks off the downtown holiday season, with carols and a countdown. Free.
- Holidays at Pittock Mansion
Pittock Mansion, NW Pittock Dr · NW & Pearl
Daily, usually mid-November through early January (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day)
The historic mansion's rooms are decorated for the holidays around a new theme each year, with city views from the hilltop. Ticketed.
On the calendar
Monday, November 16
- 4:30 PM ZooLights Sensory-Friendly · Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road Portland, OR 97221 📍(map) $13–$22
Friday, November 20
Friday, November 27
- 4:00 PM Christmas Ships Parade (combined fleet) · Grant Street Pier, Vancouver, WA 📍(map) Free
- 4:30 PM Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Holiday Lights · 35 dates through Thu, Dec 31 · Portland International Raceway, 1940 N Victory Blvd, Portland, OR 97217 📍(map)
Thursday, December 3
- 7:00 PM Christmas Ships Parade (combined fleet) · 2 dates through Fri, Dec 4 · M. James Gleason Memorial Boat Ramp, 4325 NE Marine Dr, Portland, OR 97211 📍(map) Free
Saturday, December 5
- 6:00 PM Christmas Ships Parade (combined fleet) · Port of Camas-Washougal, 24 S A St, Washougal, WA 98671 📍(map) Free
Monday, December 7
- 7:00 PM Christmas Ships Parade — Willamette Fleet · 8 dates through Fri, Dec 18 · RiverPlace Marina, 1919 SW River Dr, Portland, OR 97201 📍(map) Free
- 7:00 PM Christmas Ships Parade — Columbia Fleet · 8 dates through Fri, Dec 18 · M. James Gleason Memorial Boat Ramp, 4325 NE Marine Dr, Portland, OR 97211 📍(map) Free
Saturday, December 12
- 6:00 PM Christmas Ships Parade (combined fleet) · St. Helens Public Dock, St. Helens, OR 📍(map) Free
Sunday, December 13
- 4:30 PM Christmas Ships Parade (combined fleet) · JJ Collins Memorial Park, Vancouver, WA 📍(map) Free
Tuesday, December 15
- 6:00 PM Peacock Lane Holiday Lights · 17 dates through Thu, Dec 31 · SE Peacock Ln (between SE Stark St & SE Belmont St), Portland, OR 📍(map) Free
Saturday, December 19
- 4:30 PM Christmas Ships Parade (combined fleet) · 2 dates through Sun, Dec 20 · RiverPlace Marina, 1919 SW River Dr, Portland, OR 97201 📍(map) Free
Frequently asked questions
- Where can I see Christmas lights in Portland?
- The big ones are ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo, Peacock Lane in SE Portland, the Grotto's Christmas Festival of Lights in NE, the Christmas Ships on the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Winter Wonderland's drive-through show at Portland International Raceway, and the tree at Pioneer Courthouse Square.
- Is Peacock Lane free?
- Yes — Peacock Lane costs nothing to visit. It's lit nightly Dec 15–31, 2026 from 6 PM, and Dec 15–16 are pedestrian-only nights.
- Are there drive-through Christmas lights in Portland?
- Winter Wonderland at Portland International Raceway is a drive-through light show, nightly Nov 27 – Dec 31, 2026: Mon–Thu 5–10 PM, Fri–Sun 4:30–11 PM, and 4:30–11 PM every night Dec 16–25. Tickets are per vehicle.
- When does ZooLights start in 2026?
- Nov 20, 2026, running nightly from 4:30 PM through Jan 3, 2027 (closed Nov 24–26 and Dec 25). Adults-only BrewLights nights are Nov 13–14.
- When is the Grotto's Festival of Lights?
- It usually runs evenings from the day after Thanksgiving (Nov 27 in 2026) through Dec 30, closed Christmas Day. The Grotto posts the year's dates and tickets at thegrotto.org.
Search, filter, and see the next 90 days on the full Portland events calendar.