Winter is coming! But that only means tons to get excited about here in Oregon!
In fact, winter is one of our favorite seasons here in the Pacific Northwest! And why wouldn’t it be? With so many great things happening in Oregon and Washington, it’s hard not to love it.
There are so many fun and entertaining events around Oregon to celebrate winter and the holiday season. Check out our roundup, and don’t forget to dress accordingly. There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing!
Holiday Events in Oregon
Whether you celebrate Christmas or Festivus, there are incredible holiday events all over Oregon to celebrate the season. Below are just a few of our favorites, but you can check out Travel Portland and Travel Oregon for a calendar of events.
Zoo Lights
Portland, Oregon
November 23 – January 5, 2023
Oregon’s most beloved holiday tradition returns for another year. Over 1.5 million lights twinkle and dazzle you at the Oregon Zoo in Portland. Make your trip extra special by opting into the BrewLights celebration, where you see the ZooLights with the 21+ plus crowd while sampling over 45 local Oregonian Beers.
Portland’s 38th annual tree lighting returns to Courthouse Square on November 25. The celebration will include performances, sing-alongs, and a special visit from Santa as he illuminates the City’s 75-foot Christmas tree with over 14,000 sparkling lights. It’s a spectacular you will not want to miss.
The Oregon Christmas Ships Parade is back for its 68th season! The parade opens on December 2 and runs for 15 nights. Over 60-holiday boats ranging in size from 14 to 65 feet long are decorated for the holiday season and sail down the Columbia and Willamette rivers. Make reservations to dine riverside on one of the parade evenings or join thousands of other Oregonians on the river banks. Visit ChristmasShips.org for the latest Christmas Parade schedule.
Although the temperature may have dropped, sporting events are heating up all over Oregon. Take in a Blazers game or watch some college basketball or football. Here are a few other sporty activities you may want to check out.
A fun run for the whole family, the Tofurky Trot returns to Oaks Park Dance Pavillion. A great event for the entire family, the run is dog-friendly and accessible for both strollers and wheelchairs.
Oregon Adaptive Sports offers year-round outdoor programs for individuals with disabilities. Their winter program includes skiing (alpine and cross country), snowshoeing, and snowboarding. Programs are available at Mt Bachelor, Hoodoo Ski Area, and Mt Ashland. Visit Oregon Adaptive Sports for more information.
If you’re in the mood for indoor entertainment, get a ticket to see the Portland Winterhawks. The Portland Winterhawks are a junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon. These young athletes hail from all over the world, traveling to Portland and living with host families while they pursue hockey. It’s a fun night out, with cheap tickets and easy parking! Find out more at Winterhawks.com.
With so much going on in Oregon, there’s something for everyone! Health officials are warning of a Tripledemic this year, so be sure to follow event pages for safety information and updates. Also, take advantage of portable toilets with handwashing stations and hand sanitizer when you see them to keep your hands clean and germ-free while you take in the sites!
If you’re planning an outdoor event or festival this winter, we can help make it safer by providing high-quality portable restrooms and handwashing equipment. We rent portable restrooms across southwest Washington and northwest Oregon, so whether you’re in Vancouver, WA, Portland, OR, or other nearby cities and need to rent a portable restroom, wash station, trailered restroom, or holding tank, contact us today so that we can give you a porta-potty quote for your project or event.