Who says you have to wait until Thanksgiving to start celebrating the holidays? For families eager to break out the festive pajamas, sip something warm, and introduce a little extra sparkle into the season, November is full of opportunities to get into the holiday spirit. From Christmas markets and twinkling light displays to seasonal performances and festive family outings, there are plenty of ways to make memories before the Thanksgiving leftovers hit the refrigerator.
The weekend of November 14–15 is an especially good time to get a head start, with holiday events beginning to pop up around Portland and beyond. Whether your family is ready to start Christmas shopping, see the first lights of the season, or simply enjoy a little holiday magic, here are some activities to put on your calendar.
Holiday Markets and Early Shopping
Holiday Food & Gift Festival | November 13–15
If your family enjoys browsing festive booths and discovering unique gifts, head to the 37th Annual Holiday Food & Gift Festival at the Wingspan Event & Conference Center in Hillsboro. With hundreds of exhibitors featuring handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, toys, Christmas decorations, and specialty foods, there’s plenty to explore. Parents can browse for gifts while kids enjoy the colorful displays and perhaps pick out a special ornament or treat. It’s a great opportunity to support local makers while getting a head start on holiday shopping.
Oregon Buddhist Temple Holiday Craft Fair | November 14
For a more intimate shopping experience, visit the 11th Annual Oregon Buddhist Temple Holiday Craft Fair in Southeast Portland from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 30 local artisans will offer handmade clothing, jewelry, ceramics, ornaments, paintings, baskets, and stocking stuffers. There will also be food served throughout the day and a bake sale hosted by the Dharma School. Admission is free, making this a nice family outing for anyone who wants to shop small and find something a little different from the usual big-box-store gifts.
Other Neighborhood Holiday Bazaars | November 14–15
The weekend also offers opportunities to shop closer to home. The West Linn Adult Community Center Holiday Bazaar runs both Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and includes free crafts for kids. Families can also check out the St. Patrick’s Holiday Craft Bazaar in Canby, with handmade gifts, home décor, and gourmet foods, or the St. Anthony’s Christmas Bazaar in Southeast Portland, featuring more than 40 vendors. These community events are a fun way to find locally made gifts while supporting schools, churches, and neighborhood organizations.
Holiday Lights: What’s Coming Up Next?
If your family’s favorite holiday tradition involves wandering through tunnels of twinkling lights, there are a few dates worth marking on the calendar. While the biggest displays won’t quite be ready until after Thanksgiving, several beloved Oregon traditions are just around the corner.
- BrewLights at the Oregon Zoo (November 13-14): For 21+ only, you can experience the twinkling lights without the kids and enjoy dozens of beer, seltzer, and cider beverages. There will also be live music, food carts, and entertainment. General admission is $65-$75 and includes a 10 three-ounce pours.
- ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo (November 20–January 3): The zoo transforms into a glowing wonderland with illuminated animal displays, colorful light tunnels, and seasonal photo opportunities. It’s a particularly memorable evening outing for children who love seeing their favorite animals in a whole new light.
- Silverton Christmas Market (November 20–January 3): Head to the Oregon Garden Resort for more than two million lights, an authentic German Christmas market, ice skating, festive food, live music, and visits with Santa. This is a great option for families looking to make a full evening of holiday festivities.
- Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto (opens November 27): This Portland tradition features hundreds of thousands of lights throughout the beautiful garden grounds, along with indoor concerts by local choirs. It’s a lovely way to combine a seasonal light display with live music.
- Winter Wonderland at Portland International Raceway (opens November 27): Load up the car, grab some hot chocolate, and enjoy this drive-through display featuring more than a million lights and hundreds of holiday scenes.
For families who prefer to save their walking shoes for another day, the drive-through experience at Portland International Raceway is a particularly convenient option. And if you want to make a bigger outing of it, Silverton’s combination of lights, skating, and shopping offers several activities in one place.
Holiday and Winter Activities
OMSI On Ice | Opens November 14
Who needs an outdoor ice rink when you can go skating indoors? OMSI kicks off its seasonal OMSI On Ice experience on November 14, transforming the museum’s auditorium into a winter-themed skating rink. The synthetic ice surface offers families a chance to glide around together without worrying about the weather outside. Admission starts at $10 for adults and $8 for youth, making this a fun option for families looking to try something active and seasonal. It’s also a good excuse to pair skating with a visit to the museum’s exhibits.
Portland’s Singing Christmas Tree | November 28–December 6
For a bigger theatrical experience, Portland’s Singing Christmas Tree offers a 90-minute production featuring a large choir, choreography, classic carols, and a nativity presentation. It’s a longstanding local tradition and a particularly nice option for families looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season together.
A Little Early Holiday Magic Goes a Long Way
The weekend of November 14–15 may be a little early for some of Portland’s biggest Christmas traditions, but that’s part of the fun. It’s an opportunity to ease into the season, discover local makers, try a new activity, and start building family traditions before the Thanksgiving rush.
And if you’re not quite ready to put up the tree or start playing Christmas music on repeat, there’s no need to go all in just yet. A holiday craft fair, an afternoon of skating, or a festive performance might be just enough to get everyone excited for what’s ahead. After all, the holidays aren’t just about the big celebrations in December. They’re also about the little outings, unexpected discoveries, and time spent together along the way.
Emily currently lives in Orange County, California after spending four years in Illinois and half a year teaching in Florence, Italy. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Knox College and an M.A. in Counseling from the University of San Diego and has taught English to native speakers and ESL students for over three years. When she’s not working as a School Counselor or writing, she enjoys traveling the world, playing instruments, and blogging about Millennial experiences at Long Live the Twenties.