Oregon Winter Events

ZooLights
November to January
Portland

Nearly one million lights turn the zoo into a winter wonderland. ZooLights is Portland's premier family holiday event, combining thousands of lights, hundreds of musical groups, a ride on the zoo's brightly lit train, a troupe of costumed animal characters, and seasonal culinary treats.

ZooLights is closed November 22 and December 24-25 for the holidays, and November 27-28 for BrewLights.

LOCATION:
Oregon Zoo
4001 SW Canyon Rd.
Portland, OR

INFORMATION:
503-226-1561

Holiday Ale Festival
December
Portland

The only beer festival in the Northwest to be held outdoors in the dark, cold and often wet month of December, the Holiday Ale Festival is truly distinctive. Despite chilly temperatures and often-inclement weather outside, attendees stay warm and dry under a large clear tent that covers the venue while allowing for views of the city lights. Gas heaters create a cozy ambience under the boughs of one of the region's largest decorated Christmas trees.

More than 50 potent winter ales are featured at this year's event, all of which are created specifically to bring warmth and cheer to the holiday season.

LOCATION:
Pioneer Courthouse Square
701 SW Sixth Ave
Portland, Oregon

INFORMATION:
503-252-9899

Christmas Storybook Land
December
Albany - Willamette Valley

Experience Christmas magic when you take your family to one of the mid-valley's beloved holiday traditions: Christmas Storybookland. Walk though 85 hand-created scenes featuring characters from nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and family movies. In addition there are two huge train displays, and a Victorian Village and Main Street. At the end of your walk, you reach the North Pole and can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Admission is free, canned food donations are accepted here.

LOCATION:
Linn County Fair & Expo Center, Cascade Livestock Building
3700 Knox Butte Rd.
Albany, Oregon

Christmas Ship Parade
December
Portland/Metro

The Christmas Ship Fleet averages about 55 to 60 boats between the two Columbia and Willamette River fleets. Both fleets will be out every night for two weeks. Christmas Ships is an all-volunteer effort by a group of Portland area recreational boaters. They come from various yacht clubs in the local area and also a number of boaters who are not affiliated with a club.

Please check schedule for nights off. This event does not run every night.

LOCATION:
Willamette/Columbia River

Wallowa County Winterfest
December
Joseph - Eastern Oregon

Snow Sculpture Contest, Snowmobile poker run, chili contest, Snowmobile raffle drawing, Dances, SnowCross Race, Tub races, and auction and raffles.

INFORMATION:
541-271-4471

George Balanchine's The Nutcracker
December
Portland

This quintessential Nutcracker, danced to Tchaikovsky's magnificent score and steeped in the splendid Yuletide traditions of 19th-Century Germany, was the first in America to gain widespread popularity. Oregon Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker features magnificent scenery and elaborate costumes. The company remains one of only a handful in the nation with the rights to produce George Balanchine’s version of this holiday classic. OBT is pleased to announce the addition of two more shows this year featuring the OBT Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s magical score live.

LOCATION:
Keller Auditorium
222 SW Clay (on the corner of Clay and 3rd Ave)
Portland, OR

INFORMATION:
Ticket Office: 503/2-BALLET or 888/9-BALLET

Christmas Parlour Tour
December
Albany - Willamette Valley

Enjoy the sights and sounds of an old fashioned holiday celebration in Historic Albany, Oregon. This year the tour will feature several historic homes decorated for the holidays. Ride in Chafin Farms' beautiful horse drawn carriage through downtown Albany. Special shopping events, light refreshments, and entertainment await.

Tickets are $15 and may be purchased online

LOCATION:
Albany, Oregon

Annual Winter Whale Watching Week
December Dates TBA
The Coast

Join trained volunteers at 26 watch sites to help you spot the whales. Whale watching is a year round activity on the coast of Oregon, but this is your chance to learn more about the gray whales that migrate each year. The Whale Watching Spoken Here program places volunteers at great whale watching sites during Watch Weeks so they can teach others while watching the whales too.

INFORMATION:
541-765-3407

Whale Watching
The Coast

Bring clothing for warm weather and cold weather, rain and sunshine. You may also want to pack along a pair of binoculars. Viewing is best when there is no wind to disturb the water surface. Look for the tale-tell puffs of air and geysers of water from whales blowing when they surface to breathe. Once you have spotted a blow, concentrate on that location, looking for more blows. With luck you will see the body of the whale as it sounds preparing to breathe before diving back beneath the waves.

Eagle Cap Sled Dog Race
ECX 2026 is cancelled due to lack of snow.
Joseph - Eastern Oregon

Northwest Travel Magazine calls it: 'Oregon's Iditarod'
The Eagle Cap Extreme is two distance races with both a 100 and 200 mile event run concurrently. The 200 mile race is a qualifier for the Yukon Quest and Iditarod.

INFORMATION:
(541) 432-3125

Winter Music Festival
January 22 - 24, 2026
Florence - Oregon Coast

Each year this three day music extravaganza attracts musicians from all over the Northwest and beyond. More than 2,000 visitors flock to Florence to hear the music, go to jam sessions, and shop at the arts and crafts fair. There's also a artisan fair and pie sale.

LOCATION:
Florence Events Center
715 Quince Street
Florence, OR 97439

INFORMATION:
(541) 997-1994
www.eventcenter.org

Portland Seafood & Wine Festival
January 24-25, 2026
Portland

Set in the middle of the Dungeness Crab season, this continues to be a popular event in Portland. The Portland Seafood and Wine Festival is a delicious celebration of the region's finest seafood and wines, bringing together top local vendors for a weekend of tasting and fun. It's the perfect event for foodies and wine lovers alike to explore the best of the Pacific Northwest’s culinary scene.

LOCATION:
Portland Expo Center
2060 N Marine Dr
Portland

Lincoln City Retro Expo
February 6-17, 2026
Lincoln City

This year, Explore Lincoln City is revamping the beloved Antique Week to Retro Expo! The new name celebrates a broader spectrum of shops around town, from the iconic Robert’s Bookshop to exciting new vintage boutiques that have recently joined the community. While the name has changed, the week-long fun remains the same - thrifting adventures, special sales, and an antique-style glass float drop.

LOCATION:
Various Locations
Lincoln City

Bend Winterfest
February 13-15, 2026
Bend - Central Oregon

In addition to the ice carving exhibitions, live music, snow carving, ice sculpting, craft area for kids, European-style market the ever popular Royal Run and Hot Cocoa Run.

LOCATION:
Old Mill District and Downtown Bend

INFORMATION:
541-323-0964

Newport Seafood & Wine Festival
February 19-22, 2026
Newport - The Coast

The premier seafood & wine event of the west coast and the original Northwest seafood and wine festival. Since 1978 the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival has attracted visitors from around the world to the central Oregon coast. Packed with fun, food and wine!

LOCATION:
South Beach Marina

Annual Crab Crack
Saturday, February 27, 2026
5-7 pm
Florence - Oregon Coast

Come to Florence for an unforgettable evening of great food, good company, and meaningful impact. Guests will enjoy a classic Oregon crab dinner featuring fresh crab, pasta salad, coleslaw, garlic bread, and plenty of melted butter, all served in a lively, social setting at the Florence Events Center. Every bite supports Florence Food Share’s mission to fight hunger and nourish our community.

LOCATION:
Florence Events Center
715 Quince Street
Florence, OR 97439

INFORMATION:
541.997.1994