With Thanksgiving coming up next week, we’re starting to feel those holiday vibes! What does that mean to you? Does it mean skiing down a mountain or searching for cute winter critters on the trail? Is it the act of giving a beautiful gift or donating to charity? Or is it as simple as hot cocoa by the fire with your favorite soothing music playing in the background? All those things sound pretty fantastic to us, and so do these four feel-good weekend events!

November 23^rd – Cranksgiving

‘Tis the season of cookies, pies, and your mom’s famous roast. We love a bit of indulgence, but it’s good to balance it out with physical activity and a dash of charity. That’s where Cranksgiving comes in! Cranksgiving is a treasure hunt, a food drive, and a bicycle race all at once! This year’s meetup will commence at Nomad Cycles in NE Portland. This annual tradition started amongst bike couriers in 1999 NYC, and it fits perfectly into today’s PNW culture. We love this event because it’s healthy for the body and spirit alike. Make a tradition of giving back and releasing some endorphins with your loved ones!

November 19th – December 29^th – Hood River Train Ride

Talk about holiday vibes! Enjoy hot cocoa, dancing elves, and the gorgeous scenery along the way. This event is like a train ride out of our favorite childhood holiday movie. If you simply cannot wait to walk (or ride) through a winter wonderland, we highly suggest checking this out! Everybody gets a little closer to their inner-child this time of year, so whether you have kids of your own, or you just want to nibble on cookies and enjoy a relaxing scenic train ride to the beautiful town of Hood River, we think this is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. All aboard the Train to Christmas Town (even if we are a month early)!

November 23^rd – 24^th – Wild Arts Festival

You don’t have to be interested in climbing mountains in order to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors! If you admire nature’s beauty, but plan for a more mellow weekend, you’ll want to check out the Wild Arts Festival! Brought to us by the Audubon Society, this event brings local artists together to display works inspired by the mountains, rivers, and forests of the pacific northwest. Head over to Pure Space in NW Portland to support local arts and the conservation efforts of the Audubon Society all at once!

November 24^th – Live New York Jazz

With the beginning of the holiday season right around the corner, the soundtrack to life is taking a nostalgic turn. Many of our favorite holiday songs are of the jazz genre, but if you’re not ready for chestnuts on an open fire quite yet, this concert will meet you halfway. The Hot Sardines are one of the best modern jazz groups around. The band’s front woman believes that nothing brings people together like classic jazz, and when you take old holiday hits into consideration, that seems pretty true! The Hot Sardines have a knack for taking old school jazz sounds and transforming them for the modern listener. These folks have topped jazz charts and were even featured on Later with Jools Holland. This weekend, they’ll play at our very own Newmark Theater in downtown Portland.