Around the Sun: A Blog About Saving Money in Portland, Oregon, and beyond

Free Events in Portland: December 10–12

December 9th, 2010

I’m finally getting into the Christmas spirit. Kind of a weird story, but it happened after I found out that one of my favorite bands, Guster, is featured on a Target Christmas commerical.

The cool thing is that you can download their song and several other holiday songs free from the Target website.

Have fun this weekend (and stay dry)!

All month

The Architectural Heritage Center is offering free admission for the entire month of December.

All weekend

Christmas Ship Parade: A menagerie of boats decked with pretty lights and other holiday finery will sail down the Willamette and Columbia Rivers each evening.

Friday, December 10

Beaverton Tree Lighting: Festivities include a visit from Santa, live music, and dance and theatre performances. The tree lighting concludes the event. Beaverton City Library and City Park, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

“The Nutcracker & the Rat King”: Multnomah Arts Center students, ages 8 to 16, will perform an adaptation of this classic holiday story. Friday at 7:00 pm and Saturday at 2:00 pm.

Geeky Wonderland Holiday Party: The newly formed Portland Geek Council of Commerce and Culture (PGC3) is throwing a holiday party featuring special performances, video games, door prizes, and more. Ages 21+. Someday Lounge, 9:00 pm to 2:00 am.

Saturday, December 11

Tuba Christmas Concert: More than 200 tuba players are expected to participate in this now 20-year holiday tradition. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm.

Nob Hill Holiday Village: Nob Hill merchants will provide treats, discounts, and special events. Santa will visit Homestreet Bank from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Legacy Hospital will offer free parking.

West Linn Holiday Parade: The parade will march through Willamette Falls Drive starting at 10:00 am. Join Santa after the parade at Willamette Fire Station and enjoy yummy treats.

Gresham Family Winter Festival: Live music, crafts for kids, Santa, prizes, and a tree-lighting ceremony at 4:30 pm. Plaza del Sol, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

“The Nutcracker & the Rat King”: Multnomah Arts Center students, ages 8 to 16, will perform an adaptation of this classic holiday story. Friday at 7:00 pm and Saturday at 2:00 pm.

“Scary Ghost Stories and Tales of the Glories”: The Free Theatre of Portland will perform an original Christmas tale that’s funny, frightening, and filled with music. Clinton Street Theatre, 7:30 pm.

Indie Lit Roadshow: Come down to PLACE at Pioneer Place Mall for an afternoon of literary readings, live music, and a pop-up book shop. 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Sunday, December 12

Posada Milagro: This community celebration, filled with Latin American traditions, features live music, dance presentations, arts and crafts workshops, bilingual storytelling, and more. The event also includes Spanish-language performances. Tickets for these performances are available free on a first-come, first-served basis. Milagro Theatre, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Aífe Murray will present a reading and discussion of her new work, “Maid as Muse: How Servants Changed Emily Dickinson’s Life and Language.” Central Library, 1:00 pm.

Healthy Holiday Sweets: Food historian and author Jean Johnson will show how to make three easy holiday recipes that rely on fruit, not refined sugar, for their appeal. Hollywood Library, 2:00 pm.

Murder by the Book Author Event: Meet Chelsea Cain, Bill Cameron, Rod Englert (a blood splatter expert), Dana Haynes, Katy King, and Ann Littlewood at Murder by the Book’s open house. 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

Twinkie Chan: In her book “Crochet Goodies for Fashion Foodies,” Chan shows how to crochet a variety of food-inspired creations. Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, 4:00 pm.

Spencer Beebe, founder and president of Ecotrust, will present his book “Cache: Creating Natural Economies” in which he shares his views on the environment and economics based on a 35-year career in conservation. Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, 7:30 pm.

Kids musicians Matt Clark, Bill Aubrecht, and Joe Liebezeit will perform at Mississippi Pizza from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

More free events

For more free and low-cost events, check Portland on the Cheap, PDX Pipeline, and Dave Knows Portland.

For kids events, check UrbanMamas and PDX Kids Calendar.

For free concerts, see Concert Co-op.

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