Light up your holiday season

By Greg Johnson

From multi-colored Christmas ships to the wildlife-inspired ZooLights, it’s time to light up your life at some of the Pacific Northwest’s favorite Christmas holiday light shows.

You can get an early start on   the holiday season as more than a million dazzling Christmas lights go on display during ZooLights, Nov. 21, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026, at the Portland Zoo.

This is your chance to see wildlife-inspired lights, interactive displays, and walk through vibrant tunnels of sparkling lights. Your grandkids will also want to ride the zoo train to experience the light display, especially the life-sized animal lanterns along the route. Note: most real animals are not visible during ZooLights.

ZooLights opens nightly at 4:30 p.m. ZooLights will not be open Nov. 18-20 and Nov. 25-27. Adult tickets range from $13 to $35. For information, go to www.oregonzoo.org.

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland from Nov. 28 to Dec. 31 is reportedly the largest holiday light show in the Pacific Northwest, spanning the entire two-mile racetrack at Portland International Raceway. 

See a million holiday lights from the comfort of your own car. Along the way, gaze at dinosaurs, shimmering tunnels and arches and ride through a candy cane forest.

Winter Wonderland is a major fundraiser for the Sunshine Division, an organization that supplies food relief to 100,000 households annually.

Portland International Raceway is located at 1940 N. Victory Blvd. For cost and information, go to winterwonderlandportland.com.

Botanical light show

A magical way to spend your next Christmas vacation getaway is a visit to the annual Holiday Lights at Shore Acres event near the Oregon commercial fishing town of Charleston.

From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, Nov. 27 – Dec. 31, the five-acre park of botanical gardens comes alive with over 325,000 LED multi-color lights. After paying for a $10 parking fee, visitors can stroll through the magical park every night from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Many families make a trip to the lighting display, a holiday tradition.

Visitors must reserve their date, time, and $10 parking spot. For information, go to stateparks.oregon.gov

Christmas ships to float

Another favorite family tradition is a visit to the Columbia River to view the annual Christmas Ships Parade.

The Christmas ships will be celebrating their 71st anniversary this year. It is regarded as the longest continuously operating illuminated boat parade in the United States.

The flotilla of colorfully lit vessels will start cruising along Vancouver’s waterfront at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, with additional waterfront cruises at 7 p.m. Dec. 8, 12, and 17. The flotilla will glide along Vancouver’s Wintler Park shore and the I-5 bridge on Dec. 9 and 19. The ships will float past Camas-Washougal and Steamboat Landing shore on Dec. 6, 10 and 16.

For further information, go to www.christmasships.org.

Christmas on Franklin Street

One of the best ways to celebrate the magical holiday spirit is to tour a local neighborhood light display.

In Vancouver, Christmas on Franklin Street, Dec. 1-31, will feature eight illuminated properties with a stunning display of 250,000 lights.

The display starts at 46th and Franklin Street. The main home at 4616 Northwest Franklin St. will be the centerpiece; however, all the houses will be decorated with dazzling lights and music from 5 to 10 p.m.

Santa will make regular appearances, and local choirs, carolers, and musicians will also perform on various days. A full schedule will be available on holidaysonfranklin.com closer to Thanksgiving.

Greg Johnson is a travel writer for The Messenger.