Christmas wishes for in-laws USA families love to send at the holidays carry warmth, gratitude, and a little American cheer. Whether you are writing to your mother-in-law in Texas, your father-in-law in Ohio, or your brother-in-law and sister-in-law across the country, the right words can make the family dinner feel even closer. This list brings together heartfelt, funny, and short messages made for American homes, snowy mornings, and long drives home for Christmas. In-laws become family in the truest sense at Christmas. They welcome you to the table, share treasured recipes, cheer for the same football team, and help trim the tree. A thoughtful wish thanks them for that welcome and tells them how much their love means through the year. Use these 45 wishes in a card, a text, a holiday letter, or a toast at the table. Pick one that fits your family, add a personal line about a shared memory, and send it early so it arrives before the turkey is carved and the eggnog is poured. Last up...
Searching for the best things to do at Christmas in Portland? The Rose City trades its usual gray December skies for a full season of sparkle. From floating parades of lit-up boats to entire streets glowing like a snow globe, December here feels like the Pacific Northwest's best-kept holiday secret.
This guide rounds up 15 standout experiences for visitors and locals alike: world-class light displays, cozy European-style markets, classic performances, and only-in-Portland traditions.
Everything is grouped by theme, with free options, family favorites, and date-night picks called out along the way. Bundle up and let's dive in.
Last updated: September 23, 2026
Jump to:
- Christmas Lights and Dazzling Displays
- Holiday Markets and Christmas Shopping
- Shows, Music, and Theater
- Quintessential Portland Holiday Experiences
- Food, Drink, and Cozy December Fun
- FAQs About Christmas in Portland
Christmas Lights and Dazzling Displays
Portland goes all-in on holiday lights. These four displays are the brightest reasons to visit in December.
1. ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo. More than a million lights turn the Oregon Zoo in Washington Park into a glowing winter wonderland. Expect light tunnels, animal-themed displays, carousel rides, visits with Santa, and hot cocoa stands.
2. Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto. Set on serene, wooded sanctuary grounds in Northeast Portland, this beloved festival strings hundreds of thousands of lights through towering firs. Nightly chapel choir concerts, puppet shows, and a petting zoo round out the evening.
3. Peacock Lane. Portland's most beloved free tradition: an entire Southeast Portland street where nearly every home decks out in lights, a custom going back to the 1920s. Park nearby and stroll it in mid-to-late December for the full storybook effect.
4. Winter Wonderland at Portland International Raceway. Prefer to stay warm in the car? This drive-through show is one of the largest in the Pacific Northwest, with animated displays stretching along the racetrack. Admission is per vehicle, and proceeds support a local charity.
Holiday Markets and Christmas Shopping
Portland's maker culture shines at Christmas. These markets are perfect for gifts you will not find at the mall.
5. The Portland Bazaar. This curated holiday edition of the city's favorite artisan market packs downtown with local jewelers, ceramicists, printmakers, and food vendors. The single best stop for one-of-a-kind Portland-made gifts.
6. Portland Saturday Market (holiday season). The country's longest-running outdoor crafts market shifts into festive gear in Old Town for December. Browse hundreds of handmade stalls, catch live music, and refuel at the food carts.
7. Silverton Christmas Market at The Oregon Garden. Worth the 45-minute drive south, this German-style market pairs a glowing biergarten and gluhwein with artisan stalls, ice skating, and twinkling garden lights.
Shows, Music, and Theater
December is peak performance season in Portland. Book tickets early, because the big productions sell out.
Best holiday shows for families
8. Oregon Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker. George Balanchine's The Nutcracker at Keller Auditorium is Portland's definitive holiday ballet, with Tchaikovsky's score performed live across more than a dozen December dates.
9. Portland's Singing Christmas Tree. A Portland tradition for more than 60 years: a full choir arranged as a towering Christmas tree, singing carols in harmony. Equal parts concert and spectacle — kids love it.
Best for a cozy date night
10. Oregon Symphony holiday concerts. From Holiday Pops to film-with-orchestra nights, the Oregon Symphony's festive programs fill the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall all December. Dress up and make an evening of it.
Quintessential Portland Holiday Experiences
These are the traditions that make Christmas in Portland unlike anywhere else.
11. Christmas Ships Parade. For more than 70 years, fleets of brightly decorated boats have paraded along the Willamette and Columbia rivers on December evenings. Watch free from riverbanks, bridges, and waterfront restaurants.
12. Pittock Mansion: Home for the Holidays. Portland's historic hilltop mansion gets fully decked out each season, from vintage-decade themes to storybook settings, with panoramic city views from the grounds.
13. Cinnamon Bear Cruise. Hop aboard a narrated holiday cruise on the Willamette River with storytelling for kids, hot cocoa, and glittering skyline views. A gentle, magical family outing.
Food, Drink, and Cozy December Fun
When the rain rolls in, head indoors. Portland's breweries and bars go full festive in December.
14. Portland Holiday Brew Fest. Sample winter warmers, spiced ales, and barrel-aged stouts from local and regional breweries at this December tasting event, with hearty food vendors between pours.
15. Holiday pop-up bars. Each December, bars across the city become over-the-top Christmas wonderlands, from tiki-style Sippin' Santa pop-ups to festively decked McMenamins pubs, with creative cocktails and wall-to-wall decor.
FAQs About Christmas in Portland
When does the Christmas season start in Portland? Festivities kick off the day after Thanksgiving with the tree lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square; most events run through early January.
Is Portland a good city to visit at Christmas? Yes. Between light displays, markets, shows, and river parades, Portland offers a full holiday calendar without bigger cities' crowds or prices.
What can I do for free at Christmas in Portland? Peacock Lane, the Christmas Ships Parade viewing spots, the downtown tree lighting, and window-shopping the decorated downtown core are all free.
Where are the best Christmas lights in Portland? ZooLights, the Festival of Lights at The Grotto, Peacock Lane, and the Winter Wonderland drive-through are the four standout displays.
Does it snow in Portland at Christmas? Rarely. Expect cool rain in the city, but you can usually find snow with a short drive up to Mount Hood if you want a white Christmas.
What are the best Christmas day trips from Portland? The Silverton Christmas Market, the Mount Hood Railroad Polar Express, and the Oregon Coast's Sea of Lights aquarium all make great day trips.
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