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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Zoo animals, lights, historic homes part of Portland Christmas

Associated Press

Historic homes decorated for the holidays, a festival with lights and music, and nighttime visits to the zoo are all part of Portland’s Christmas celebration.

The Pittock Mansion, where Portland pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock lived from 1914 to 1919, is decorated on the theme of “A Child’s Christmas,” with vintage toys, trains, dolls, garlands and poinsettias. Tours are offered through Dec. 31.

A huge holiday tree is on display in Pioneer Courthouse Square, and more than 60,000 visitors take in the Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto. The festival offers 160 holiday music concerts between Thanksgiving and Dec. 30, along with a walk-through outdoor lighting display, puppet shows and a petting zoo. (Details: www.thegrotto.org/events/lights.htm.)

Nightly at the Oregon Zoo, visitors can experience the ZooLights Festival, with live music, a train ride, costumed characters and food. (But if you want to visit the animals, come back in the daytime, as most of them will not be on display for the nighttime event.)

Looking ahead to New Year’s Eve, an extravaganza is planned at the Mount Hood Skibowl with live music, a beer garden, fireworks and skiing and snowboarding until 2 a.m.; details at (503) 222-2695 or www.skibowl.com.

In nearby historic Oregon City, through Dec. 30, you’ll find candlelight tours, afternoon teas with a living history theme, and visits with Father Christmas at the Ermatinger, McLoughlin and Stevens-Crawford historic homes.

Other local attractions include a Christmas fantasy trail decorated with thousands of holiday lights, a walk-through tunnel, a castle and a maze, at Wenzel Farms, through Dec. 28, Mondays to Saturdays, 6 to 9 p.m.

For information about visiting Portland, go to www.travelportland.com or call (877) 678-5263. For more information about holiday events in Oregon City and Mount Hood, visit www.mthoodterritory.com or call (888) 622-4822.