It’s just not the holidays without at least one visit to a light display. If you’re looking to drive through or stroll, we’ve got something to make your wish come true, include a new (to this list) display in the woods around Skamania Lodge. There are several budget-friendly options including free displays and some that just ask for donations. If you’re traveling the state this holiday season, we’ve included several attractions from the coast to central Oregon.
Take in one or more and make your Christmas bright!
Magic of Lights (Salem)
This holiday lighting display at the Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center has quickly become a staple in mid-Willamette Valley holiday plans. Take a visit through this drive-thru attraction that features lighting displays and animation made from millions of individual LED lights. Stay warm inside your car as you take in holiday favorites including sparkling Holiday Barbie, supersized Bigfoot Monster Truck, and life-sized dinosaurs of prehistoric Christmas.
Opens 5:30 p.m. Nov. 21 and continues 5:30-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 5:30-10 p.m. Fridays-Sundays through Dec. 11. Then the attraction is open nightly through Jan. 3, 2026, Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th Street N.E., Salem; admission is per standard-sized vehicle and starts at $24; magicoflights.com/locations/salem-or.
Silverton Christmas Market
This enchanting holiday extravaganza features 1.5 million lights that now reside at the Oregon Garden Resort. This change offers a longer and more intimate one-way walking path that eases the flow of traffic and winds through varied landscaping. Visitors can also visit a Biergarten, snowless Tubing Hill and local artisan vendors, including a few that sell German-imported goods such as nutcrackers. Santa will visit at various times, too. Market closed Nov. 24-25 and 27 and Dec. 1-2, 8-9, 24-25.
Hours: 5–9 nightly (with some exceptions) Nov. 21-Dec. 31, with timed entry slots available every 30 minutes, Oregon Garden, 895 W. Main St., Silverton; admission $8-$23; silvertonchristmasmarket.com/tickets.
Oregon ZooLights
Has it been years since you walked around the Oregon Zoo at night to see the light displays? Even if you went last year, this season offers a few new highlights that will make it worth the trip.
- New panels in the central plaza will highlight the zoo’s conservation efforts on behalf of species such as California condors, northwestern pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies.
- 30 more luminous creatures are joining the regular cast of glowing wildlife and lanterns along the train route, including flamingos, beavers, bears and elephants.
- This year’s ZooLights will offer its first 21+ night when grown-ups get to take in the holiday magic without kids around. Date is Saturday, Jan. 3.
Before ZooLights officially opens, there are a couple of special events. On Nov. 14-15, there are two adults-only nights during BrewLights. And on Nov. 17, lighting and sounds will be modified to provide a sensory-friendly experience for people with sensory-processing needs. Check the website for details on both these early season events.
Timed-entry tickets must be purchased in advance. Nightly, with exceptions Nov. 21-Jan. 4, Oregon Zoo, 4001 S.W. Canyon Road; $13-$35 based on date and time; oregonzoo.org/lights.
Sunriver Grand Illumination and Holiday Light Show
Come for the tree lighting on Grand Illumination night (Nov. 23), a signature Sunriver tradition for more than 20 years. The night includes a tree-lighting ceremony and fireworks show, plus a visit from Santa. There will also be live music and entertainment, train rides, pony rides, telescope viewings, hot cocoa, huggable characters and holiday shopping. After that first night, the Holiday Light Show with festive music is available nightly at 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 through Jan. 1.
Various times nightly, Nov. 23-Jan. 3, outdoors behind the Sunriver Lodge, 17600 Center Drive, Sunriver; free; sunriverresort.com.
Oregon Coast Aquarium “Sea of Lights” (Newport)
If you find yourself at the coast this holiday season, make sure to stop by the Oregon Coast Aquarium for a cup of hot cocoa, photos with Santa (Dec. 12-13 and 19-20 only), and the aquarium’s special holiday decorations in this annual after-hours event. Guests who buy general admission tickets that same day also get access to “Sea of Lights” with no exit and re-entry necessary. Stroll through the grounds to see larger-than-life neon outlines of rockfish, seahorses, jellies and other sea creatures.
Hours 5-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 28-Dec. 20, Oregon Coast Aquarium, 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Road, Newport; admission $10; canned food donations will get you $5 off Dec. 5-6 only; aquarium.org/visit/calendar/sea-of-lights.
Holidays in the Gorge (Skamania Lodge)
This holiday season head to the Columbia River Gorge for a winter wonderland treat at Skamania Lodge. The lodge will kick off the season with its annual Christmas tree lighting celebrations (Nov. 26) and then offer a self-guided stroll through towering Douglas firs, open meadows and more all decorated with hundreds of colorful lights. Along with the trees you’ll see a life-sized Sasquatch, forest animals and more. There’s also hot cocoa around the fire after you’re done with your walk.
5-9 nightly Nov. 28-Jan. 4, Skamania Lodge, 1131 S.W. Skamania Lodge Way, Stevenson, Wash; free; skamania.com/experiences/seasonal-activities.
PIR Winter Wonderland
The drive-thru light display at the Portland International Raceway, which bills itself as the largest holiday light display in the Pacific Northwest, is back offering a warm and dry drive around the racetrack to see more than 250 colorful light set pieces and many fully animated scenes. All proceeds benefit the Sunshine Division, which provides food for residents in need. This year there will again be car-free nights including Bike the Lights on Nov. 30, and Lights & Leashes on Dec. 1-2. Admission varies on these special nights; see the website for details.
Generally, 5-10 nightly with extended hours on weekends and some special days Nov. 28-Dec. 31, Portland International Raceway, 1940 N. Victory Blvd.; general single vehicle admission varies depending on date and size of vehicle and starts at $38; winterwonderlandportland.com.
Shore Acres Holiday Lights (near North Bend)
The Holiday Light show features thousands of lights and displays in the formal garden along Oregon’s south coast. Timed entry and $10 parking must be purchased before arrival.
4:30-9 nightly Nov. 27-Dec. 31, at Cape Arago Highway, 13 miles southwest of Coos Bay/North Bend; Info on how to reserve times/dates available at this link: oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com/tour.
Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights
The Grotto welcomes the public to its festive Christmas event offering outdoor caroling, puppet shows, and an assortment of musical guests during nightly choral concerts (see website for schedule).
Opens 5-10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, and continues nightly (except Dec. 25) through Dec. 30, entrance at Northeast 85th Avenue at Sandy Boulevard; admission $7.75-$18.95 in advance online, gate prices are higher. Nonperishable food item donations benefit SnowCap; thegrotto.org/christmas-festival-of-lights.
Magic at the Mill (Salem)
The Willamette Heritage Center offers a weekend of living history demonstrations, museum tours, Santa visits, children’s activities, craft demos, model trains, vendors and, of course, evening outdoor light displays.
5:30-8 p.m. Nov. 28-Dec. 1, at the Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill St. S.E., Salem; admission $12-$17; willametteheritage.org.
Keizer Miracle of Christmas
Keizer’s Gubser neighborhood has been lighting up the holidays for more than 30 years. The event is a fundraiser for local food banks and offers a drive- or walk-through experience of fun neighborhood displays. Before you exit the neighborhood, there is a donation station on 14th Street.
6-10 p.m. nightly, Dec. 5-26, beginning at the corner of Lockhaven and 14th Street in Keizer. Follow the “SnoCops” to stay on the route. Free admission, but donations of nonperishable food and cash benefit Marion/Polk Food Share; facebook.com/MiracleofChristmas.
Christmas Ships
This metro area favorite celebrated 70 years in 2024. Make sure you check the schedule for an evening trip to watch the ships either on the Willamette or the Columbia rivers (dates vary). Spectators can get an excellent view of the lights from riverside locations in Portland, Milwaukie, St. Helens, Vancouver, Camas and Lake Oswego. Some restaurants book out early on Christmas Ship nights. Get your reservations in soon.
Various nights and times (weather permitting) Dec. 4-21, fleets parade on both the Willamette and Columbia rivers. See the website for a complete schedule; free; christmasships.org/parade-schedule.
Lightopia in Hillsboro
Drive through a glimmering landscape decorated with lighted colorful characters and holiday icons. Plan your own seasonal playlist to play on your vehicle’s radio for even more fun. Check back for updates on special events at the Lightopia website. New this year: no reservations required.
Opens Dec. 9, continues 5:30-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 5:30-9 p.m. Fridays-Sundays through Dec. 28 (closed Dec. 24-25), Gordon Faber Recreation Complex, 4450 N.E. Century Boulevard, Hillsboro; free; hillsboro-oregon.gov/our-city.
Heceta Lighthouse B&B Holiday Lighting (Florence)
It’s the 29th year for this annual Victorian Christmas open house that features the Queen Anne style Keeper’s House decorated inside and out with festival holiday flare. Santa makes it an annual stop on his rounds. Take a nighttime stroll to the lighthouse (bring your own flashlight or headlamp) so you can watch the beams rotate over the ocean. The gift shop will be open with lighthouse-themed items.
4-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday Dec. 13-14, 20-21, park at Heceta Head Lighthouse State Viewpoint, 725 Summer St., Florence; donations accepted; hecetalighthouse.com.
Peacock Lane (Updated)
Last to jump into the holiday season, but certainly not the least, the annual Portland Christmas Street has untangled millions of light strings and will plug them in beginning Monday, Dec. 15. This iconic classic been one of Portland’s “must-do” holiday traditions for more than 100 years. Car-free nights (walkers only) are Dec. 19-20.
6-11 p.m. nightly Dec. 15-31, along Southeast Peacock Lane north of Belmont Street; free; peacocklane.org
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