Even though December seems to be just getting started, Christmas is quickly approaching! There are many holiday-themed events this weekend, including as a winter Native art market, live music, and the opportunity to view real reindeer. Visit these links to view our 2024 Holiday events guide for even more event ideas:
Music: entertainment.oregonlive.com.
Displays of lighting: oregonlive.com/events.
OregonLive.com/stage is the stage.
This Friday, visit Rockwood Market Hall to see some of Santa’s most cherished staff members. File shot from Oregon.The person from Oregon
Rockwood reindeer
Fans can see Santa and some of his reindeer in the Gresham neighborhood on Friday before the big man in the red suit prepares for his busiest night of the year. Tell Santa how much of a good person you have been this year.
4–7 p.m. Rockwood Market Hall, 458 S.E. 185th Ave., Friday, Dec. 20, free;rockwoodmarkethall.com/events.
A Christmas Carol intoxicated
A professional actor downs whiskey and then attempts to play Scrooge in Experience Theater Project’s Drunk History adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic. Professional improvisers attempt to stay true to the plot as audience suggestions and a Wheel of Fate make it more difficult. A raffle, gift giving, Christmas cocktails, and an ugly sweater competition are also planned. Ages 18 and over are advised for attendees.
Brunish Theatre, 1111 S.W. Broadway, Friday–Saturday, Dec. 20–21, 7:30 p.m.; $69–$300; portland5.com or 503-248-4335.
— The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com’s Kristi Turnquist
The 10th Anniversary of Kickstand Comedy
Kickstand Comedy’s month-long anniversary celebration comes to a close with entertaining and humorous performances by Bri Pruett and Alex Falcone’s The Return of Earthquake Hurricane and Holy $&# Improv from Los Angeles. Join us for a humorous Friday night to start off your Christmas festivities.
Friday, December 20 at the Clinton Street Theater, 2522 S.E. Clinton St., LA improv 7 p.m. and Earthquake Hurricane 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 online and $25 at the door (kickstandcomedy.org/10-year).
Cool Nutz Festival
With two days of live music featuring Mic Crenshaw, Northside Tego & Vary, King Wess, Boom Bap Project, DBOI LTD, Juma Blaq, Bobby Barrz, Rasheed Jamal, and Cool Nutz & Friends, Cool Nutz honors hip-hop and the spirit of the holidays. Attend a local event and dance the holiday blues away.
Alberta Street Pub, 1036 N.E. Alberta St., Friday–Saturday, Dec. 20–21, 8 p.m. Tickets $15–$30; eventbrite.com/e/festivale-cool-nutz.
O Bright Dawn!
In Mulieribus, a Portland women’s choral group, offers a winter program that features both classic and well-known Christmas songs as well as 4th-century Advent chants.
tickets $15–$45; inmulieribus.org; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1716 N.W. Davis St.; and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 at St. Philip Neri Church, 2408 S.E. 16th Ave.
Native Art Market in the Winter
Visit Vancouver to see a vibrant array of 16 local Indigenous artists and merchants selling a variety of jewelry, handcrafted goods, artwork, and other items that may be given as presents or added to your own collection.
Saturday, December 21, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.; free admission; Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver; cchmuseum.org/calendar/winter-native-art.
On December 10, 2022, Portland’s annual Tuba Christmas Concert filled Pioneer Courthouse Square with pure brass tuba power. File shot from Oregon.Graves, Mark
Christmas Tuba
Do you enjoy loud, booming holiday music? Pioneer Courthouse Square is hosting another holiday season of Portland’s cherished big brass tradition. More than 200 tubas and other brass instruments join together for the 33rd annual Tuba Christmas performance to perform seasonal favorites. The crowd always loves the free concert.
Saturday, December 21, 1:30 p.m.; free; 701 S.W. Sixth Ave., Portland.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas LIVE!”The Symphony of Oregon
A Live Charlie Brown Christmas
A Charlie Brown holiday episode is the most joyous thing ever, and this production captures that enchantment. The Oregon Symphony will play the reassuring score as live actors narrate the tale in front of an animated backdrop.
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 S.W. Broadway, Saturday, Dec. 21–22, 2 and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, 2 p.m. Tickets start at $20, orsymphony.org.
— Oregonian/OregonLive’s Veronica Nocera
Bed & Breakfast at Heceta Head Lightstation and LighthouseThe Head Bed & Breakfast in Heceta
Victorian Christmas at the Heceta Head Lighthouse
The Keeper’s House at the Heceta Head Lighthouse will once again be open to the public on weekends until the 22nd if you happen to be on the coast over the holidays. There will be live music, drinks, and Santa visits at the decorated house. With a flashlight, visitors can approach the lighthouse in the dark and hear the waves crashing against the rocks.
4–7 p.m. 92072 Hwy. 101 South, Florence; Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 21-22; free entrance; donations welcome. Parking is $5, or free if you have a valid Oregon State Parks pass (hecetalighthouse.com/events#christmas).
Natureland’s Crafty
Are you trying to figure out how to get the kids out and about during the holiday break? This weekend’s nature-inspired crafts class is one of the free pop-up nature programs that Hoyt Arboretum is offering to children aged 5 to 12. Create a piece of art with moss, leaves, cones, acorns, and other organic elements.
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hoyt Arboretum Visitor Center, 4000 S.W. Fairview Blvd., Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 21–22, free;hoytarboretum.org/events.
A Portland Lesbian Choir Emerges from the Shadows
As it begins its 39th season, the Portland Lesbian Choir invites the public to an event featuring heartfelt and inspirational music that conveys messages of unity, optimism, and tenacity. The choir’s varied repertoire will feature works by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Cassandra Batie, Gloria Estefan, and Eric Whitacre, as well as a new choral arrangement of Sharon Udoh’s “Hold On.”
Parkrose Performing Arts Center, 12003 N.E. Shaver St., 7 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21–22; tickets $25–$30; zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing.
Soul of Stumptown
For a holiday concert with room for dancing, an all-star cast of Portland’s greatest blues, jazz, rock, and soul performers light up the stage. Norm Sylvester, Michael Quinby, Katy Oberg, Dan Berkery, LaRhonda Steele, and numerous others are among the performers. every age.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door for the Sunday, December 22 show at the Alberta Rose Theater, located at 3000 N.E. Alberta St.; see www.albertarosetheatre.com/event/stumptown-soul-holiday-spectacular.
Please send submissions to [email protected] at least three weeks before the start of your event if you would want your event to be included on OregonLive.com or in The Oregonian’s weekly printed A&E section. Links to films or digital photos are useful.
Stein, Rosemarie
@trafficportland, [email protected], and 503-221-4376
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