The air is getting crisp, and the leaves have all but fallen. Winter is here in Oregon, which means Christmas is right around the corner! From parades and light displays to sleigh rides and tree lightings, amazing holiday celebrations are beginning to take place all across the state. Here are 13 lovely towns in Oregon that are especailly full of holiday spirit:
- Baker City
flickr/ Baker County Tourism Every year, the historic town of Baker City is transformed by twinkling lights, red ribbons, and powdery snow into a true winter wonderland. Here, you can celebrate the holidays with a visit to the Christmas Bazaar, the festival of trees, and of course, the Christmas parade.
- Florence
facebook/ Florence Oregon Coast Florence is a magical place come wintertime. This historic coastal town gets festive with a holiday bazaar, the Nutcracker ballet, a holiday art fest, and more. One unique way to celebrate the holidays in Florence is to check out the Victorian Christmas Open House at Heceta Head Lighthouse.
- Silverton
Located in Marion County, the beautiful town of Silverton is a wonderful place to visit this time of year. Be sure to check out the amazing events at the Oregon Garden, including ice skating, a Christmas market, and their legendary holiday light display.
- Bend
flickr/ Lisa Norwood Every year, the wonderful city of Bend shows its holiday spirit with carolers, holiday markets, carriage rides, a “Christmas Paddle”, and even a parade!
- Hood River
flickr/ Devon D’Ewart In the winter months, Hood River sparkles with Christmas lights. The riverside town also hosts a tree lighting, a parade, and more, while the Mt Hood Railroad takes visitors on an unforgettable excursion on the “Polar Express”.
- McMinnville
flickr/ Liz Randall Each year, the gorgeous town of McMinnville is transformed with glittering holiday lights throughout downtown, a beautiful Christmas tree in the park, and all kinds of holiday cheer.
- Portland
flickr/ drburtoni Oregon’s largest city has it’s own unique holiday traditions. Throughout the city you’ll find light displays, Christmas concerts, a tree lighting ceremony, a Santa convention, and even a holiday beer festival.
- Coos Bay
flickr/ ilovepics11 Coos Bay is lovely any time of year, but it’s especailly worth visiting around Christmas time, when the incredible Shore Acres State Park is transformed by thousands of twinkling light sculptures.
- Jacksonville
website/ jacksonvilleoregon.com The historic town of Jacksonville has a unique, Victorian take on Christmas traditions. When the holiday season comes around, Jacksonville’s streets are adorned with lights and bows, and filled with music sung by costumed carolers. There’s also a community tree lighting, lots of hot cider, and the Jolly Holly Trolley.
- Joseph
facebook/ JosephOregon.com Rimmed with stunning snowy peaks, the town of Joseph is perfectly scenic around the holidays. The annual Jingle Through Joseph includes holiday music, a bazaar, hayrides, a parade, and more.
- Sumpter
flickr/ Baker County Tourism The tiny town of Sumpter is a wonderful place to take part in some awesome holiday activities. You can climb aboard a Christmas train, watch the Christmas parade, shop at the holiday bazaar, and more.
- Salem
flickr/ PhotoAtelier Oregon’s beautiful capital celebrates the holidays with a tree lighting, a Festival of Lights parade, a Christmas fair, and more.
- Ashland
flickr/ Daniel Aberle When the cold months come around, Ashland is a great place to feel the holiday spirit. You can go ice skating, check out the Festival of Lights, shop at the Artisan’s Christmas Faire, hear carolers, and much more.
Check out our list of the best 2016 christmas light displays in Oregon here.
flickr/ Baker County Tourism
Every year, the historic town of Baker City is transformed by twinkling lights, red ribbons, and powdery snow into a true winter wonderland. Here, you can celebrate the holidays with a visit to the Christmas Bazaar, the festival of trees, and of course, the Christmas parade.
facebook/ Florence Oregon Coast
Florence is a magical place come wintertime. This historic coastal town gets festive with a holiday bazaar, the Nutcracker ballet, a holiday art fest, and more. One unique way to celebrate the holidays in Florence is to check out the Victorian Christmas Open House at Heceta Head Lighthouse.
Located in Marion County, the beautiful town of Silverton is a wonderful place to visit this time of year. Be sure to check out the amazing events at the Oregon Garden, including ice skating, a Christmas market, and their legendary holiday light display.
flickr/ Lisa Norwood
Every year, the wonderful city of Bend shows its holiday spirit with carolers, holiday markets, carriage rides, a “Christmas Paddle”, and even a parade!
flickr/ Devon D’Ewart
In the winter months, Hood River sparkles with Christmas lights. The riverside town also hosts a tree lighting, a parade, and more, while the Mt Hood Railroad takes visitors on an unforgettable excursion on the “Polar Express”.
flickr/ Liz Randall
Each year, the gorgeous town of McMinnville is transformed with glittering holiday lights throughout downtown, a beautiful Christmas tree in the park, and all kinds of holiday cheer.
flickr/ drburtoni
Oregon’s largest city has it’s own unique holiday traditions. Throughout the city you’ll find light displays, Christmas concerts, a tree lighting ceremony, a Santa convention, and even a holiday beer festival.
flickr/ ilovepics11
Coos Bay is lovely any time of year, but it’s especailly worth visiting around Christmas time, when the incredible Shore Acres State Park is transformed by thousands of twinkling light sculptures.
website/ jacksonvilleoregon.com
The historic town of Jacksonville has a unique, Victorian take on Christmas traditions. When the holiday season comes around, Jacksonville’s streets are adorned with lights and bows, and filled with music sung by costumed carolers. There’s also a community tree lighting, lots of hot cider, and the Jolly Holly Trolley.
facebook/ JosephOregon.com
Rimmed with stunning snowy peaks, the town of Joseph is perfectly scenic around the holidays. The annual Jingle Through Joseph includes holiday music, a bazaar, hayrides, a parade, and more.
The tiny town of Sumpter is a wonderful place to take part in some awesome holiday activities. You can climb aboard a Christmas train, watch the Christmas parade, shop at the holiday bazaar, and more.
flickr/ PhotoAtelier
Oregon’s beautiful capital celebrates the holidays with a tree lighting, a Festival of Lights parade, a Christmas fair, and more.
flickr/ Daniel Aberle
When the cold months come around, Ashland is a great place to feel the holiday spirit. You can go ice skating, check out the Festival of Lights, shop at the Artisan’s Christmas Faire, hear carolers, and much more.
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