Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto
✓ Verified 2025-2026
Where: NE 85th Ave & Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon
When: November 28 - December 30 (closed December 25)
Hours: typically dusk – 10 PM
Cost: $16.75-$16.95 adults online ($18.95 at gate), $7.95 children 3-11, infants free
over two million lights160+ holiday concertsnightly indoor concertsoutdoor carolingpuppet showsentertainment tentsdiscounted early-December weeknightsattraction
The Grotto, the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, hosts what is billed as the world's largest Christmas choral festival, with more than 160 concerts held across the run alongside over two million lights on the grounds. Nightly indoor concerts, caroling, and puppet shows round out the program, with discounted admission on select early-December weeknights.
Best time to arrive. Sunset in Portland is around 4:28 PM in mid-December, fully dark by about 5:02 PM. A typical December night here bottoms out near 36°F, so dress for standing around outside.
Other displays nearby
There are 6 other displays within 5 miles of this one, and 14 within 15 miles. Most people make a loop of it rather than driving out for a single house.
- Christmas Ships Parade
- Peacock Lane
- ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo
- Pittock Mansion Holiday Display
- Winter Gleam Light Experience at Oaks Park
- Christmas on the Campground
- Winter Wonderland at Portland International Raceway
- Schilling Lights on Lark
Make a night of it. This is stop 1 on our 8-stop Portland lights loop — about 25.5 miles and 93 minutes of driving in total.