# Christmas lights in Portland for little kids, 2026

> Four Christmas light displays in and around Portland have 2026 dates: all walk-throughs. Two are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 4:30 p.m. at ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo. All four are in Portland. Each card has stroller notes where the venue gives them, the 2026 price and a link to tickets.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 4 listings with 2026 dates; 0 without posted dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/portland-or/christmas-lights/
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## Walk-through lights and light trails

- **ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo** at Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR 97221. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Nightly from 4:30pm; closed Nov 17–19, Nov 24–26 and Dec 25. Price: Adults $13–$35, youth $13–$30 by date. 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. Official page: https://www.oregonzoo.org/zoolights
- **Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto** at The Grotto, 8840 NE Skidmore St., Portland, OR 97220. When: Nov 27 – Dec 30, 2026; closed Christmas Day. Time: 5–9:30pm. Price: Online $17.95 ages 12+, $8.95 ages 3–11; 2 and under free. Lights around the sanctuary grounds, an hourly puppet show and free parking. Value nights are Nov 30–Dec 3 and Dec 7–10. Official page: https://www.thegrotto.org/christmas-festival-of-lights
- **Peacock Lane** at Peacock Lane, SE Peacock Lane, Portland, OR 97214. When: Dec 15–31, 2026. Time: 6–10pm. Price: Free. A block of decorated houses in Southeast Portland. Dec 15 and 16 are pedestrian-only nights, and there’s free cocoa Dec 15–24. Official page: https://www.peacocklane.org/
- **Tree Lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square** at Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97204. When: Fri, Nov 27, 2026. Time: 5:30–6:45pm. Price: Free. The 42nd lighting of the square’s tree, with music and a countdown. Official page: https://www.thesquarepdx.org/event/42nd-annual-tree-lighting-ceremony/

## Light displays that come back every year

- [ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo](https://littlesweekly.com/portland-or/events/zoolights-at-the-oregon-zoo/): next dates Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
- [Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto](https://littlesweekly.com/portland-or/events/christmas-festival-of-lights-at-the-grotto/): next dates Nov 27 – Dec 30, 2026
- [Tree Lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square](https://littlesweekly.com/portland-or/events/tree-lighting-at-pioneer-courthouse-square/): next dates Nov 27, 2026
- [Peacock Lane](https://littlesweekly.com/portland-or/events/peacock-lane/): next dates Dec 15–31, 2026

## Christmas trains near Portland

- [Christmas train rides near Portland](https://littlesweekly.com/portland-or/christmas-trains/index.md): Holiday lights trains, Polar Express rides and more, 5 with 2026 dates, ages, prices and booking notes.

## More holiday outings in Portland

- [The Nutcracker with kids in Portland](https://littlesweekly.com/portland-or/nutcracker/index.md): 3 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances.
- [Christmas markets in Portland](https://littlesweekly.com/portland-or/christmas-markets/index.md): 3 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Are there free Christmas lights in Portland?
Yes. Peacock Lane and Tree Lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square are free in 2026.

### What’s the cheapest Christmas light show in Portland?
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto (Online $17.95 ages 12+, $8.95 ages 3–11; 2 and under free); ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo (Adults $13–$35, youth $13–$30 by date). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.

### Drive-thru or walk-through: which is better with little kids?
We didn’t find a drive-thru with 2026 dates yet. Walk-throughs (four here) are better for kids who want to run around.

### What time do the Christmas lights start in Portland? We have an early bedtime.
The earliest evening starts: ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo at 4:30 p.m., Tree Lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square at 6:45 p.m. and Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto at 9:30 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.

### Which light shows are best for kids under 3?
Little ones get in free at Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto (2 and under free). With a baby, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm in the car.

### How do you check these Christmas lights listings?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page, and links to it. We list dates, times and prices only when that page shows them for 2026; anything without posted dates goes in “Dates not posted yet” instead. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).