What to do with kids in Portland over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by four museums, zoos and play places: four say they’re open on Christmas Day and four on New Year’s Day. Plus five dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
Oregon Rail Heritage Center · 2250 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214
Good to know: A steam train ride with Santa aboard. Strollers can’t go on the cars, so plan to carry little ones.
Oregon Zoo · 4001 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR 97221
Good to know: Prices change by night, so weeknights early in the run are cheapest. A sensory-friendly night is set for Nov 16, and tickets include TriMet rides.
The Grotto · 8840 NE Skidmore St., Portland, OR 97220
Good to know: Lights around the sanctuary grounds, an hourly puppet show and free parking. Value nights are Nov 30–Dec 3 and Dec 7–10.
SE Peacock Lane, Portland, OR 97214
Good to know: A block of decorated houses in Southeast Portland. Dec 15 and 16 are pedestrian-only nights, and there’s free cocoa Dec 15–24.
OMSI · 1945 SE Water Ave., Portland, OR 97214
Hollywood Library · 4040 NE Tillamook Street, Portland, OR 97212
Good to know: A short party for kids and families that ends with a countdown at noon.
Capitol Hill Library · 10723 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, OR 97219
Good to know: The Southwest Portland version, for kids and families.
Fairview-Columbia Library · 1520 NE Village Street, Fairview, OR 97024
Good to know: A bilingual storytime that counts down to noon.
Oregon Zoo · 4001 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR 97221
Good to know: Prices change by night, so weeknights early in the run are cheapest. A sensory-friendly night is set for Nov 16, and tickets include TriMet rides.
Open on New Year’s Day: Oregon Zoo, ZooLights, Oregon Rail Heritage Center, Portland Japanese Garden.
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in PortlandEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in PortlandEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in PortlandFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in PortlandIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in PortlandBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in PortlandHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in PortlandParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in PortlandKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in PortlandParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in PortlandPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in PortlandBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in PortlandChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
This week in PortlandDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Oregon Zoo (Dec 25: closed), ZooLights (Dec 25: closed), Oregon Rail Heritage Center (Dec 25: closed), Portland Japanese Garden (Dec 25: closed) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.
On the calendar: Holiday Express at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center.
Oregon Zoo (Open daily Dec 18 – Jan 3), ZooLights (Runs through Jan 3), Oregon Rail Heritage Center (Closed on New Year’s Day), Portland Japanese Garden (Closed on New Year’s Day).
On the calendar for Jan 1: ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo, Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto, Peacock Lane and OMSI On Ice. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Portland, through the holidays.
