Christmas is so close, you can feel it! Here are a few things to keep you busy this weekend that will hopefully satisfy that holiday hankering:

December 14 – 16th – Zoo Lights

Who can forget the holiday tradition of Oregon Zoo’s annual winter festival? As you walk around the ZooLights, you’ll see an amazing spectacle of more than a million and a half lights, experiencing your zoo in a whole new, magical way. In addition to visiting all of the animals, you can ride the popular lighted train and enjoy dinner from a variety of food carts while sipping special warm drinks to live music. Little ones can ride the carousel, and Santa will be available at the events through December 23 for photos. Admission is under $20 for adults and $13 for young kids.

December 14 – 16th – Christmas Fantasy Trail

Take a walk through a lighted, wooded “Fantasy Trail”, decorated with thousands of lights for your Christmas enchantment. Don’t miss the 40 foot castle with Christmas scenes, a tunnel, maze, crooked house, suspension bridge and more! Tickets for adults are only $7 and $6 for kids under 12. Refreshments are provided and there is a nightly bonfire!

December 13 – 16th – Portland Night Market

You know the kind of bustling, busy, brightly lit street market you see in movies, where the director wants you to know you’re visiting a strange, magical place? Well, for this weekend only, that magical place Portland’s Custom Blocks, and it contains a multitude of the city’s best makers and creators, as well as some of its best food, drink, and music, too. You can visit Portland’s Night Market to spend an adventurous evening in the Central Eastside. The best part is that the event is free and open to all ages!

December 15th – Christmas Ships Party

The Winter Solstice & Christmas Ships Viewing event has been another Portland tradition since 1954! You can watch a fleet of the beautifully decorated Christmas Ships sail from River Place Marina, in Portland, towards Lake Oswego. The spectacle is free, and food, hot chocolate, and coffee are available for purchase for a great cause. All proceeds go to Lewelling’s community programs, including their Annual Concerts in the Park each August at Ball-Michel Park. Stop by and say hello to this wonderful group of volunteers working hard to provide you with tasty treats. The event includes one giant bonfire along with six other smaller, more intimate fires, for you and your family to enjoy! An added feature for 2018 will also include a sculpture fire!