The spirit of the season is ramping up with tons of fun and festive events for Portland families to check out. Light up your days together with awesome outings. From a festival of lights to skating and bowling. Your crew will enjoy moving and grooving, and even getting a little artsy. Scroll down to find out more.
photo: via iStock
15 Years of LAIKA
Now extended through Nov. 28, experience the stop-motion fantasia of LAIKA Studios as it celebrates its 15th anniversary with screenings of all five of its Oscar-nominated films, from Coraline to Missing Link. Walk through displays of puppets and sets from each film and explore the meticulous craftsmanship of LAIKA’s creative process. Key filmmakers will be on hand for Q&As that delve deeper into the artistry and technical innovation behind the films. Event Details.
Visit Lan Su Chinese Garden
There is an enchanted garden inside our city’s busy and hectic downtown limits. It’s a tranquil, peaceful oasis transporting you from its surroundings: concrete, traffic, and the realities of city living. Step inside the sizable gates and you’re in a haven of quiet beauty. It’s Lan Su Chinese Garden; the most authentic Chinese garden outside China, and it is a must-see for you and the kidlets. And it’s open Thursday through Tuesdays. Event Details.
Bowling at Grand Central Bowling
Get your little bowlers ready to knock down pins at their favorite bowling alley. Grand Central Bowling is open and ready to host your family for an afternoon of fun. When you aren’t knocking down pins, mom and dad can grab drinks while the kids play arcade games. Event Details.
A Surge of Social Change
Home to a multiracial and multicultural community of over 40,000 residents, Vanport was built to house migrant workers and their families who relocated to the Portland region during World War II. At its peak, Vanport became the largest wartime federal housing project in the nation and second largest city in Oregon. On May 30, 1948 a devastating flood destroyed the entire city, killing 15 people and leaving thousands houseless. Vanport was never rebuilt, but its legacy lives on. Event Details.
Christmas Festival of Lights
The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights is one of the largest Christmas choral festivals in the world and it features 160 indoor holiday concerts performed by many of the region’s finest school, church and civic choirs accompanied by lights that dazzle. Offering a family-oriented blend of traditional celebration and serene reflection, the festival theme reflects the special season of hope that Christmas offers local families. Indoor concerts are scheduled each evening in The Grotto’s 600-seat chapel, and ongoing family entertainment in The Grotto’s plaza area includes outdoor caroling, puppet shows and a live petting zoo. Event Details.
Mean Girls
Broadway in Portland is pleased to announce the First National Tour of Mean Girls—the record-breaking new musical comedy produced by Lorne Michaels, Stuart Thompson, Sonia Friedman, and Paramount Pictures based on the hit film—will be coming to Keller Auditorium as part of the 2021-2022 Broadway Season. Event Details.
Skating at Oaks Park
Roller skating is active, indoor fun perfect for the rainy NW! This beautiful Roller Rink is famous coast-to-coast as the premier skating establishment in the U.S. and is not only the oldest roller rink in the country but also has the largest skating floor west of the Mississippi! So strap on a pair of skates and enjoy moving to music all afternoon long. Event Details.
Mandela Exhibit
Explore the inspiring story of one of history’s most famous leaders in Mandela: The Official Exhibition and the imaginative world of Oregon’s LAIKA Studios in 15 Years of LAIKA. Mandela: The Official Exhibition examines the legacy of one of history’s most venerated statesman and features personal belongings and objects never previously seen outside of South Africa. Event Details.
Saturday Pearson Field Education Center
Open by reservation each Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the Pearson Field Education Center is the ideal location for youth of all ages to experience STEM education through aviation. We feature a flight simulator lab, vertical wind table, glider building, historic airplanes and collections on display, and various educational programs. Event Details.
—Annette Benedetti
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