Student Life

Holiday Events In Portland

Niki Gray
December 5, 2012

It’s that time of year again! There is so much to do and so little time. Portland has many holiday festivities, and with so many different cultures represented there will is bound to be something for everyone.

Zoo Lights began on Nov. 23 and will go until Dec 31. The lights are open Sunday-Thursday 5 – 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5-8:30 p.m. The zoo is lit up with more than a million bright lights. The zoo train will roll down the tracks and take you to each of the animals in there lit up enclosures. It will cost $10 for adults, $8.50 for seniors 65 and up and $7 for children ages three to 11 and infants admission is free.

The lighting of the Maddax Woods is a walk through the woods on a lighted path by the Willamette River.The Lighting of the Maddax Woods is also here. This started Nov. 17 and will end Dec. 31. The hours are from 4-9 p.m. every day. The Maddax Woods are located near Bolton Primary School.

The Singing Christmas Tree is back for the holiday season. A Portland favorite for many years. Shows will be playing on Nov 24 and 25 there will also be shows on Dec 1-2.The singing Christmas Tree includes choir performances, singing Christmas carols mixed in with acting to show stories through the songs. To purchase tickets, call 503- 577 9733 at the Keller Auditorium.

The Nutcracker is coming to the Keller Auditorium Dec. 8-9, 14-16, and 19-23. The Nutcracker is a ballet that has been apart of the Portland Holiday season and an ongoing tradition.

The Pittock Mansion is a historic house in the Portland area and during the holiday season it is lit up with Christmas lights and have tours through to view the lights and learn about its history. The mansion will be open Nov. 19 through Jan. 1 with the exception of Christmas day.

Peacock Lane is opening Dec. 15 and will end on Dec. 31. Peacock Lane is a neighborhood that has been putting up an extravagant Christmas light display since 1920.

The Portland Christmas Ships sail on the Willamette river and will be sailing into town Dec. 7- 21.

Pioneer Square Christmas Tree lighting is a family event that everyone loves no matter what the weather is. This has been a Portland tradition for 28 years.

Santa’s Workshop is set up at Washington Square mall. Children can go take photos with Santa and his Elves. This will be going on from now until Dec. 24.

Whatever your holiday season has in store for you, make it a memorable season with
family fun activities!

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About the Contributor

Niki Gray, Photo Editor

Neck muscles cramping from long airplane rides, tasting the fresh sea salt from the ocean’s waves and feeling delighted after helping others are all things Nicole Gray, senior, experienced this summer. Gray spent her summer exploring Scotland as part of a project called “People to People”, surfed in California at a surf camp and volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization. The most interesting part of Gray’s summer was spent doing something she had never done before, leaving the country with no one she knew. Gray loves to explore the outdoors and visit new places whenever possible. In June, she packed her bags for Scotland, the land of loch and legends. The main reason for going to Scotland was as a student ambassador program called People to People. “Scotland looks exactly like Oregon so there wasn’t much of a change but it was still a really cool experience,” Gray said. “The best part of traveling with this program was meeting new people.” Gray’s next destination plan is for Australia which for her would be the perfect combination of her travel interests and her surfing interests. Every summer Gray travels to Newport Beach, Calif, for Surf Camp. Gray is considering on going to school in California partly because she would “surf every single day.” “I go surfing in the morning, it helps me relax and relieve stress,” Gray said. “I have been instructed since I was in fifth grade. I have friends down there so it is super fun to hit the waves with them.” Gray enjoys being out of state, but according to her she belongs in her West Linn home helping out her community. This summer she took photographs for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that builds homes for communities. She was taking photographs of the people for the Habitat for Humanity website. Gray is proficient in photography as she has taken journalism for three years and two years of photography class. “I plan on using the experience and everything I learned from Habitat for Humanity in journalism class,” Gray said. “Niki is great for the Amplifier.” Camille Collier, senior, Editor in chief of the Amplifier, said. “She is our head photographer and always has high quality photos that we can put up in our website.”