We track 8 displays in Portland — the densest city for lights in Oregon. 4 of them are free to visit.
When to go
Displays here switch on around sunset. In Portland that means about 4:29 PM in early December and 4:28 PM by mid-month — the earliest sunsets of the year fall right in the middle of lights season. It is properly dark by about 5:02 PM, which is when the displays look their best. December nights in Portland typically drop to around 36°F.
Date
Sunset
Fully dark
Dec 1
4:29 PM
5:02 PM
Dec 15
4:28 PM
5:02 PM
Dec 25
4:32 PM
5:06 PM
The Portland lights loop — 8 stops
We ordered every display in Portland into the shortest sensible driving loop: roughly 25.5 miles and 93 minutes of driving, before you count time spent parked and looking. Start wherever is closest to you and follow it round.
Driving estimate assumes a 25 mph average on residential streets plus four minutes stopped per display. Straight-line distances with a road-network allowance — treat it as a planning figure, not a satnav route.
Practicalities
Residential displays have no facilities of their own — no parking, no toilets, nowhere to warm up — so it is worth knowing what is around. Within about three miles of the Portland cluster, OpenStreetMap maps 30 public car parks and 48 public toilets. There is no shortage of cafés and takeaways for a hot drink on the way round.
Columbia and Willamette Rivers, various viewing points · Portland, Oregon
November 28 - December 21 (fleets have scheduled nights off) · Roughly 4 pm - 7 pm, varies by night and location
Freeattraction55-60 decorated boatsvisible from both riverbanksindividually designed nautical holiday themesoptional dinner cruisesrunning since 1954
A Pacific Northwest tradition that began in 1954 with a single vessel, the parade now sends roughly 55 to 60 custom-decorated boats along the Willamette and Columbia rivers on rotating nightly schedules. Designs range from Santa fishing to a Loch Ness Monster in a Santa hat, all viewable for free from the riverbanks.
November 21 - January 4 (closed Nov 25-27 and Dec 25; Jan 3 is 21+ only) · Timed entry from 4:30 pm in 30-minute increments
$13-$35 adults, $13-$30 youthattraction1.5 million lightstimed-entry ticketstrain ridePolar Bear BobsledRainbow and Galactic tunnelsJellyfish Junctionwalk-through or drive-through optionsfood cartsbeer and wine20% member discountincome-assistance discounts
Running since 1988, the Oregon Zoo strings more than 1.5 million lights across its grounds each winter, with illuminated animal displays, themed tunnels, and a train ride. Advance timed-entry tickets are required, and visitors can choose to walk or drive through.
November 28 - December 30 (closed December 25) · typically dusk – 10 PM
$16.75-$16.95 adults online ($18.95 at gate), $7.95 children 3-11, infants freeattractionover two million lights160+ holiday concertsnightly indoor concertsoutdoor carolingpuppet showsentertainment tentsdiscounted early-December weeknights
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.
SE Peacock Lane between Stark St and Belmont St · Portland, Oregon
December 15-31 · 6 pm - 11 pm nightly; pedestrian-only nights December 19-20
Freeneighborhooddozens of decorated housestradition since 1932free cocoa and cider boothinteractive walk-through displayscar-free nights
Portland's most famous holiday street has been decorating since 1932, when it began as a competition among neighbors, and today dozens of houses on the four-block lane light up nightly in late December. A booth serves free cocoa and cider, and December 19-20 are pedestrian-only nights; visitors are advised to park five or six blocks away.
TBD - check website or social media · typically dusk – 10 PM
Freeattractioncarouselhistoric trainarcade gamesmini golfSanta meet-and-greetfood and drink vendorsholiday gift vendors
The historic Oaks Park amusement park pairs its holiday light experience with rides like the carousel and vintage train, plus arcade games, mini golf, and Santa visits. Dates and pricing for the season had not been announced at press time.
$17 adults, $15 seniors, $13 youth, free under 6 and membersattractionThe Decades Tour19 decorated mansion rooms4 decorated Gate Lodge roomsthemes spanning the 1910s-1950s
The historic Pittock Mansion decorates 19 of its rooms plus four rooms of the Gate Lodge for the holidays, with this season's expanded Decades Tour styling each space to reflect eras from the 1910s through the 1950s. The indoor experience is ticketed, with free admission for members and children under six.
Thanksgiving weekend - December 31; special event December 13-14 · typically dusk – 10 PM
Freeresidentialthousands of lightslife-size nativitytallest decorated Christmas tree in Southeast Portland
This free Southeast Portland display features thousands of lights, a life-size nativity scene, and what is claimed to be the tallest decorated Christmas tree in Southeast Portland. A special event weekend takes place December 13-14.
November 28 - December 31 · typically dusk – 10 PM
$38-$49 per standard car ($38 weeknights, $49 weekends; $85 limos/large vehicles)drive-thruover 250 animated light displaysdriven on a race trackBike the Lights night (Nov 30)Walk the Lights and Leashes dog-walk nights (Dec 1-2)benefits Sunshine Division hunger reliefonline discount
Billed as the largest holiday light show in the Northwest, this drive-through event sends cars around the Portland International Raceway track past more than 250 animated light set pieces, many depicting Christmas carols. Proceeds and food donations support the Sunshine Division's hunger-relief work, and special bike-only and dog-walk nights open the track to non-drivers.