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

Free Events in Portland: December 2–4

November 30th, 2011

The holidays are in full swing here in PDX. Enjoy!

Note: The following events offer free admission, but might charge for activities or food and drink.

Events are sorted by start time. If I missed anything, please leave a comment.

Friday, December 2

Portland Children’s Museum: It’s the first Friday of the month, which means admission is free from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.

First Friday Art Walk in SE Portland: The galleries open from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Beaverton Tree Lighting and Holiday Open House: At 5:00 pm, head to Beaverton City Library (12375 SW 5th Street) for the Holiday Open House, featuring Santa, entertainment, a children’s craft workshop, and more. At 6:00 pm, the celebration moves to City Park for more entertainment and the tree lighting.

Troutdale Tree Lighting Event: Starting at 5:45 pm in Mayors Square Park, the ceremony includes entertainment, a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and the tree lighting. Stay for the First Friday Art Walk, which runs until 9:00 pm.

West Linn Holiday Tree Lighting Event: Festivities begin at 6:00 pm and include train rides, a movie, the lighting of the tree, and more. West Linn City Hall.

Camas Hometown Holidays Celebration: Festivities include the tree lighting, visit from Santa, art, hayrides, and more. Downtown Camas, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Pick up a map at Cedar and NE 4th Ave.

Multnomah Village Holiday Gala: The tree will be lit at 6:42 pm. Stay around for horse-drawn carriage rides, carolers, hot chocolate, and more.

Gasland: See this movie and enjoy bottomless bags of popcorn. Multnomah Arts Center (7688 SW Capitol Hwy). Live music starts at 6:30 pm. Movie starts at 7:30 pm.

Montavilla Frosty Friday: This is the holiday edition of Montavilla’s monthly first Friday event. A lighting of the district will take place at 7:00 pm, and businesses will offer specials and complimentary treats. SE Stark between 76th and 82nd.

DinoBike Art Opening: See dinosaur- and bike-inspired art by printmaker & illustrator Carye Bye of Red Bat Press and Hidden Portland. Field trip at 8:00 pm to see the Red Bat Press studio one block away. Bikesaurus (1337 SE MLK Jr Blvd), 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Saturday, December 3

Gresham Tree Lighting and Holiday Events: Enjoy a full day of activities including a parade, visit from Santa, dog costume and trick contest, tree lighting, and more. Check the website for times and locations.

Adventures with Bugs: Families are invited to hold, pet, and look at tarantulas, cockroaches, scorpions, and more. Sellwood-Moreland Library, 10:30 am.

Hillsboro Holly Days: Festivities include a winter marketplace, a free opportunity to explore the indoor playground Outdoors In, a visit from Santa, tree lighting, and more. Check the website for times and locations.

Author Daniel H. Wilson will talk about his latest novel Robopocalypse. The movie version of the book is slated to be released in 2013, with Steven Spielberg directing. Central Library, 1:00 pm.

Read Local, Buy Local: Meet local authors at this bookselling and signing social. Authors include Carmen Bernier-Grand, Mark Bitterman, Gabriel Boehmer, Lucy Brennan, Bill Cameron, Laura Foster, Matt Holm, Jean Johnson, Bart King, Paulann Peterson, David Michael Slater, William Sullivan, Willy Vlautin, David Ward, and Emily Whitman. Hollywood Library, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Mr. Moose’s Winter Walk Puppet Show: Families are invited to join Mr. Moose on a snowy adventure. Presented by Penny’s Puppet Productions. Rockwood Library, 1:00 pm.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Play: Join the Hampstead Stage Company as they bring this story to life through interactive live theatre. Capitol Hill Library, 2:00 pm.

American Indian Symbols and Mask Making: Families are invited to learn about Northwest Coast Native American culture through mask making. Northwest Library, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Sherwood Winter Festival: The event includes a parade that starts at Post Office Plaza at 4:00 pm and winds to old town by the library. Afterward, enjoy free hot dogs and hot cocoa, entertainment, the tree lighting, and more.

Milwaukie Umbrella Parade and Tree Lighting Event: The parade will start at Waldorf School at 4:00 pm. If you’d like to march, decorate an umbrella and meet at the school at 3:30 pm. After the parade, stay for the tree lighting at City Hall (10722 SE Main St).

Oregon City Holiday Tree Lighting: Holiday music, a visit from Santa, and more. Clackamas County Court House Liberty Plaza, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

Christmas Ships Parade Preview: At 7:00 pm, this fleet of boats, each one decorated with holiday lights, will assemble in front of the Port of Camas/Washougal and parade in the area of the docks for about an hour. The fleet will then return to Portland on the Washington side.

Sunday, December 4

Choosing an E-reader: Learn about the devices that are on the market today. Central Library, 2:00 pm.

Fruit Cake Redeemed: Cookbook author and food historian Jean Johnson demonstrates how to create a delicious fruit cake and offers samples to taste. Woodstock Library, 2:00 pm.

Happy Valley Tree Lighting Ceremony: Festivities include a visit from Santa, live music, horse-drawn carriage rides, the tree lighting, and more. Happy Valley City Hall (16000 SE Misty Dr), 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Lake Oswego Millennium Concert Band will perform at Lakeridge High School Auditorium at 7:30 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.

Entry Filed under: Free