Portland Business Districts Kick Off the Holiday Season with Festive Events & Decorations

Seasons greetings, Portland! Are you ready to shop? Portland’s business districts are the place to be for festive fun this holiday season. Stretch your dollars with Shop Local promotions while you enjoy food and drink specials and marvel at epic light shows and window displays. Do some online shopping at local retailers on Cyber Monday or help businesses give back on Giving Tuesday. If you are looking for a jolly shopping experience, Portland’s business districts have something for everyone on your list. 

City Wide: Head over to the Shop Small Win Big event page to discover 100+ small businesses with amazing gifts that will brighten your holidays! On 11/17-12/11, enter to win prizes including vacations and hotel stays, dining experiences, concert and performing arts tickets, iPads, and so much more!

Beaumont: Fremont Holiday Fest returns on 12/2 from 4-7pm. Activities include photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, snacks, crafts, and wreaths for sale. Visit beaumontvillagepdx.com for more info. 

Central Eastside: The Portland Night Market happens on 12/1-12/4 and is a blend of food, culture, music, drinks, and retail in the Industrial District.

Foster: Starting 12/1, find the Foster Holiday Tree at various businesses for your chance to win prizes. Clues will be given on Facebook and Instagram about the tree’s daily location. Find the tree, make a purchase, and take a picture with the tree. Post the picture on FB/IG and tag @fosterareapdx to be entered into their holiday giveaway.

Gateway: Gateway Holiday Fest heads indoors with a special community event on 12/6 at the Nick Fish Building. Enjoy cookies, cider, free books for kids, music, an ornament making station, and a community tree lighting.

Lloyd: Join Lloyd Center as they kick off the Holiday Season with their Mrs. Claus Holiday Tree Lighting Event, on 11/19 from 1-3pm at the Lloyd Center Ice Rink. My People’s Market returns on 11/19 and 11/20 and it is bigger than ever! Visit the Oregon Convention Center for a gathering of Portland’s diverse and vibrant entrepreneurs, makers, artists, and culinary wizards.

Mississippi Ave: Local businesses are lighting up Mississippi Ave this holiday season with bright and colorful lights throughout the street. On Giving Tuesday (11/29) shop owners will donate a percentage of that day’s sales to Boise Eliot Elementary School.

Montavilla: Montavilla Winterfest kicks off with a holiday tree lighting on 12/3, and then continues with Santa Saturday on 12/10, and the Merry Montavilla Soiree & Pub Crawl on 12/17! Go see the lights and window decorations in shops and follow #montavillawinterfest on Instagram for up-to-date events and promotions.

Multnomah Village/Hillsdale: Golden Ticket launches on 11/25. Receive a Golden Ticket when you shop at local, participating businesses. The Golden Ticket can then be redeemed at a neighboring participating business to receive a discount or a gift with purchase. On 12/3, things get even more merry with the district’s annual Holiday Gala, which includes hot chocolate, holiday window displays and decorations, and SANTA!

Old Town: Find the perfect gifts at the Old Town Holiday Market, happening at the Old Town Gallery on 11/26 from 4-9pm. Following that, Nuestro Navidad will take place on 12/17.

Sellwood Moreland: On 12/3, Sellwood’s Decemberville will be an all-day shopping experience complete with games and activities, sales, discounts, and family fun.

St. Johns: Light Up St. Johns kicks off on 11/18 with a community tree lighting in St. Johns Plaza. Starting on 11/19, don your ugliest sweater for the Ugly Sweater Shopping Extravaganza, and keep the festivities going with a Bar Crawl on 12/9-12/11! Look for posters at participating bars/restaurants, take a photo, post to Instagram with #lightupstjohns, and tag the business for a chance to win prizes!

Williams District: On 11/26 from 2-5pm, BYOC (bring your own camera) to the DIY Bar and take a fun holiday photo with Prince the Llama while you enjoy jolly drink specials and gift certificate giveaways! The Community Warehouse will also be onsite to collect gently-used blankets for those in need.

This list is non-exhaustive so look for more events to be announced soon. Pledge to keep your hard-earned money ‘home for the holidays’ by shopping locally and supporting the small businesses that help make Portland a wonderful place to live, work, and shop.