Christmas is around the corner and with finals almost done, get ready for the most wonderful time of the year. Downtown is all decked out for the festival, and there are a host of events to choose from. Why not start with a tour to see the beautiful Christmas tree in downtown! On the busiest shopping day of the year, the day after Thanksgiving, thousands of Portlanders gathered at Pioneer Court House Square to celebrate the official start of the season by lighting the city’s spectacular 75-ft Douglas-fir tree provided by Stimson Lumber Company. This year’s event featured a holiday sing-a-long with Thomas Lauderdale and members of Pink Martini, “Oregon’s Own” 234th Army Band, the Pacific Youth Choir and many more. Strobe lights were used during this event. And if you missed it, there is no need to feel sad because there are a host of other events lined up.

Meet Santa Claus at the “Santa House on the Bricks” at Pioneer Square from 12-Dec through 24-Dec. The talented singers of the Robert Gray Concert Choir will perform holiday songs at the Square on the 13^th of December. On the 14^th, downtown will pulse with the melodic sounds of big brass as over 250 tubas play in unison for the 23rd Annual Tuba Christmas Concert in the heart of downtown. This seasonal performance is FREE for the public to enjoy during that busiest of shopping days. And for those interested in more music, there are a host of free concerts lined up. Check out the complete calendar of events at http://thesquarepdx.org/calendar.shtm. Now there are reasons not to leave Portland even during the cold days of December! Don’t you agree?