There’s nothing quite like an epic lights display to get you in the holiday spirit. That’s for sure the case at Christmas in the Garden, where the grounds of the Oregon Garden Resort are set atwinkle with literally a million lights. In addition, you’ll enjoy wandering the European-style Christmas market, where you can buy everything from nutcrackers to schnitzel sandwiches.

The Oregon Garden Christmas lights, which have been renamed the Silverton Christmas Market this year, are simply magical. My kids’ eyes were as big and round as ornaments as they took in all the twinkly displays. (I think they loved the rainbow light tunnel the best but it’s hard to say!)

If you’re looking for a Christmas event near Portland or Salem, OR, then skeedaddle your way to Christmas in the Garden.

To give you a sense of what to expect, read on! I’ll cover the Christmas in the Garden lights and displays, the Christmas market, ice skating, the beer garden and more. Have so much fun, and happy light peeping!

Christmas in the Garden near Portland, Oregon

Other Oregon Christmas lights displays got nothin’ on Christmas in the Garden / Silverton Christmas Market. A million lights definitely make the season merry and bright.

In addition to Christmas lights, you’ll find fire pits throughout the grounds. My kids and I loved pausing at these spots to warm our hands. (You’ll want to dress warmly, of course, but little hands get cold easily, even in mittens.) You can also get toasty in partially enclosed warming stations. These warming stations have seats where you can sit. My kids wanted to rest awhile, which gave their legs enough energy to explore the rest of the Christmas in the Garden displays.

The lights display and Oregon Christmas market are located in Silverton, OR. If you’ve explored this part of Oregon, you may know Silverton because it’s home to Silver Falls State Park, one of the prettiest spots to see waterfalls in the area. Oregon Garden Resort, where Christmas in the Garden / Silverton Christmas Market is held, is just an hour drive from Portland.

Its name change to Silverton Christmas Market isn’t the only different thing this year (updated 2021). The owners have also taken out one part of the usual Christmas lights route, I’m guessing to limit back-and-forth traffic in order to reduce exposure to the ‘rona. They extended the path in another direction to increase the total length—and make more room for more lights, naturally. In addition, tickets are not sold at the door: You’ll need to buy tickets online in advance.

Beautiful Oregon Garden lights

The Oregon Garden lights are some of my favorite in the state. The displays are beautiful and big—and we had such a great time!

One of the things I like about the Christmas lights display is that there’s so much room to explore. We wandered for more than an hour throughout the displays.

Different areas had different themes, like Whoville and Rainbow Land. My kids liked the story book area, where they saw an enormous princess castle—at least that’s what they informed me it was.

Christmas in the Garden (remember, which is now called Silverton Christmas Market) also has plenty of interactive areas. We walked through Christmas light tunnels and into oversized ornament structures.

Keep an eye out for Krampus, too. Thankfully a live Krampus wasn’t in attendance when we visited this holiday lights display near Portland, but I did spy a Krampus made of red lights. Spooky!

Ice skating at the Oregon Garden

An indoor ice skating rink helps families pretend they’re at the North Pole, leisurely skating while waiting for Santa. (Just me? Doesn’t everyone imagine that when they’re ice skating?)

The holiday ice skating rink is ringed by seats so non-skaters can watch. Little ones who are wobbly can use skating supports so they spend more time skating and less time plonking on their tushies.

Be prepared for the steep cost of skating. When we went, skating cost $20 per person, which included skate rentals. (Admission is $15 if you bring your own skates, but then you’ll have to carry them throughout the Christmas light displays.) The cost was why I decided to not skate, which my kids literally cried about—until I promised to take them skating back in Portland.

2021 update: This year, there is no ice skating at Christmas in the Garden / Silverton Christmas Market. I hope that the ice rink will be back next year!

Biergarten at Christmas in the Garden

An event in Oregon is hardly an event unless it has craft beer on tap. So it is no surprise that Christmas in the Garden / Silverton Christmas Market has a beer garden (that’s biergarten for those of you channeling the European Christmas market vibe).

Folks 21 and up can lift a glass to the holidays; even kids can take a break in the beer garden tent with their grownups, since the beer garden is kid-friendly. Space heaters keep the inside toasty. I’m not sure exactly what beers are on tap, but they’ll be pouring locally crafted brews.

You can also listen to live bands in the beer garden tent. Taste your way through Oregon beers, then head back out to enjoy the Oregon Christmas lights.

Photos with Santa

If you and your family want to get a photo with the Big Guy, you’ll want to visit Christmas in the Garden by December 23. After that point, he’ll need to return to the North Pole to get ready for his big trip, naturally.

Look for Santa next to the booths in the Christmas Market.

Silverton Christmas Market, Oregon

In 2021, Christmas in the Garden was renamed the Silverton Christmas Market. Not everyone has yet caught on, and most people still call it the Christmas in the Garden, or the Oregon Garden lights. Whatever you call it, though, it’s a fun thing to do for the holidays near Portland and Salem, OR!

In addition to all the Christmas lights, you’ll also find handcrafts shops and food. My kids and I enjoyed walking among the booths to check out hand-knit hats, blown glass ornaments, homemade soaps and many more gifts. We’d already done all our holiday shopping by the time we went to the Silverton Christmas Market, but it was fun to browse.

You’ll also find food and drink booths throughout the market, in addition to the beer garden. The food booths mainly sell German foods, such as sausage and schnitzel, as well as pretzels and potato salad. They also sell kid-friendly fare, such as hot dogs and applesauce. The food booths sell beer as well.

We bought hot cocoa and hot cider. It was so cozy to sip a hot drink while walking among the Christmas lights!

Make sure to bring credit or debit cards, as the Christmas market booths do not accept cash.

FAQs: How to visit Christmas at the Garden

Ready to celebrate the holidays at Christmas in the Garden? Get your tickets while the event runs, from November 16, 2021 through January 9, 2022. (The event is closed Christmas Even and Christmas Day, December 24 and 25.)

Hop on the Christmas market craze! Have fun, and pin this post so you don’t forget about this fun Oregon Christmas lights display!



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A small indoor ice skating rink makes Christmas in the Garden feel even more festive. We didn’t skate when my kids and I went to see the Oregon Garden lights, but we did watch for a bit.

The ice skating rink was very kid friendly. The rink had supports kids could use if they were unsteady. My own kids liked how the lights inside changed colors. It was as if the Oregon Garden Christmas lights experience kept going inside the skating rink!

Be prepared for the steep cost of skating. When we went, skating cost $20 per person, which included skate rentals. (Admission is $15 if you bring your own skates, but then you’ll have to carry them throughout the Christmas light displays.) The cost was why I decided to not skate, which my kids literally cried about—until I promised to take them skating back in Portland.

2021 update: This year, there is no ice skating at Christmas in the Garden / Silverton Christmas Market. I hope that the ice rink will be back next year!

Biergarten at Christmas in the Garden

An event in Oregon is hardly an event unless it has craft beer on tap. So it is no surprise that Christmas in the Garden / Silverton Christmas Market has a beer garden (that’s biergarten for those of you channeling the European Christmas market vibe).

Folks 21 and up can lift a glass to the holidays; even kids can take a break in the beer garden tent with their grownups, since the beer garden is kid-friendly. Space heaters keep the inside toasty. I’m not sure exactly what beers are on tap, but they’ll be pouring locally crafted brews.

You can also listen to live bands in the beer garden tent. Taste your way through Oregon beers, then head back out to enjoy the Oregon Christmas lights.

Photos with Santa

If you and your family want to get a photo with the Big Guy, you’ll want to visit Christmas in the Garden by December 23. After that point, he’ll need to return to the North Pole to get ready for his big trip, naturally.

Look for Santa next to the booths in the Christmas Market.

Silverton Christmas Market, Oregon

In 2021, Christmas in the Garden was renamed the Silverton Christmas Market. Not everyone has yet caught on, and most people still call it the Christmas in the Garden, or the Oregon Garden lights. Whatever you call it, though, it’s a fun thing to do for the holidays near Portland and Salem, OR!

In addition to all the Christmas lights, you’ll also find handcrafts shops and food. My kids and I enjoyed walking among the booths to check out hand-knit hats, blown glass ornaments, homemade soaps and many more gifts. We’d already done all our holiday shopping by the time we went to the Silverton Christmas Market, but it was fun to browse.

You’ll also find food and drink booths throughout the market, in addition to the beer garden. The food booths mainly sell German foods, such as sausage and schnitzel, as well as pretzels and potato salad. They also sell kid-friendly fare, such as hot dogs and applesauce. The food booths sell beer as well.

We bought hot cocoa and hot cider. It was so cozy to sip a hot drink while walking among the Christmas lights!

Make sure to bring credit or debit cards, as the booths do not accept cash.

FAQs: How to visit Christmas at the Garden

Ready to celebrate the holidays at Christmas in the Garden? Get your tickets while the event runs, from November 16, 2021 through January 9, 2022. (The event is closed Christmas Even and Christmas Day, December 24 and 25.)

Hop on the Christmas market craze! Have fun, and pin this post so you don’t forget about this fun Oregon Christmas lights display!

The post Christmas in the Garden: Oregon Garden lights in Silverton Christmas Market appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

All these holiday activity printables for kids are fun for the whole family. (It’s hilarious to hear both a grandparent and child answer “What’s the hardest part of being your age?”—one of the prompts in my holiday conversation starters printable.)

If you’re looking for a fun activity or icebreaker for after Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, or you’re hunting for a holiday travel printable for kids, these holiday activities, games and cards are right up your alley. Maybe you’ll be like my family and make these a part of a new holiday tradition!

(Another new tradition: taking goofball Christmas-themed photos in front of a wrapping paper backdrop!)

And speaking of new family holiday traditions, I’m obsessed with our matching Christmas jammies from Shinesty. We had so much fun goofing off and taking pictures using the timer function on my phone! Snag your own matching family jammies (affiliate link).

Shinesty’s offbeat patterns perfectly inspired us to go full-on ridiculous. The level of goofiness in this new Christmas tradition is up to you.

In this post, I’ll share downloadable printables, along with recommendations on how to use them, for:

• Holiday conversation starters. Print out these 42 questions for kids and adults to spark both funny and deep conversations.
• Family gratitude booklet printable. Filled with gratitude prompts for kids and grown-ups, plus fun thankfulness activities and quotes, this printable is a fun family activity to do together.
• Holiday Bingo cards. Everyone loves Bingo! It’s fun to play this holiday-themed game whether you’re taking a road trip or just driving around town.

Download the free holiday Bingo cards here!

I’m so excited for you and your crew to do these fun holiday activities for the whole family. Try them in person or over Facetime and Zoom.

I’m wishing you a joyful season, no matter what it looks like this year.

Holiday Conversation Starters printables

The other day, Edie asked how we’re going to celebrate Christmas. We’re still working out how to make it special, but Edie was very concerned about not having our extended family over to celebrate.

“But Christmas is all about being together with your family!” she said.

The holidays are all about family. And one part of the holidays I most love is having the opportunity to slow down and spend quality time together. I made these holiday conversation starter prompts to spark memorable discussions—in person or over Zoom.

I adore lingering at the dining table long after everyone’s plates are clean. It seems as if a full belly helps the conversation flow. My family and I can spend literally hours talking, laughing and joking after a holiday meal.

These holiday conversation starters are meant to help your family do the same.

The questions are all-ages appropriate and will take you beyond the standard questions (like “what are you grateful for?”). And these interesting questions will get everyone in the family, from kids and teens to parents and grandparents, chatting.

I recommend printing these holiday conversation starters on paper that’s thicker than printer paper. That way they’ll hold up for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and beyond. And you can store them with your other Christmas decorations so you can use them again next year.

And even if you’re celebrating apart from family and loved ones this year, you can still use these questions to prompt interesting conversations! Use them over Facetime or Zoom when you virtually get together this holiday.

Download my holiday conversations starters cards here!

Gratitude printable + prompts

In my family, we try to talk about what we’re thankful for at most meals. Maxine loves thanking the sun and rain for helping grow the plants we ate. Edie, bless her heart, usually thanks me for cooking (even if the extent of my cooking is warming up leftovers).

I’m pretty sure you’re like me in that you take your gratitude practice up a notch during Thanksgiving and Christmas—and the whole holiday season.

I designed this family gratitude booklet so families could answer gratitude prompts together. As you fill it out, you’ll create a kind of gratitude journal that everyone contributes to. It makes an amazing keepsake.

Filled with gratitude prompts for kids, this booklet asks families to reflect on what they love about each member of the fam. I also included gratitude quotes and other fun activities.

My family and I are filling this gratitude journal between now and Thanksgiving. By answering gratitude prompts over the course of a week or so, no one gets burned out on thankfulness. Ha!

The free gratitude printable helps us pause during a busy time of year like Thanksgiving. That way, we all stay mindful of what’s truly at the heart of Thanksgiving: gratitude, family and togetherness.

Download the gratitude printable book here!

Free holiday Bingo printables

My family typically alternates between hosting a big family Christmas at our house and traveling to spend the holiday at my parents’ home or flying to relatives’ homes in the Midwest. Along with everything else in 2021, this year looks different.

We’ll be celebrating Christmas just the four of us.

We’re all sad, which is why I’m thinking extra-hard about ways to make this holiday special. I’m also considering how we can carry on family traditions—with a twist to ensure we keep our loved ones and community safe.

So this year, although we’re not traveling anywhere for the holidays, I’m still printing out these holiday Bingo cards to play as a family.

I originally designed them to be played on a road trip or while flying. They can just as easily be played while driving around town or running errands.

My own kids love the excitement of looking for a menorah or someone in a Santa hat. They are totally jazzed about marking off each spotted item, whether they get an actual Bingo or not.

This season, I’m going to keep these holiday Bingo games in the car with us all the time. That way I can hand them back to the kids whenever we’re going on a drive. They can look out the window to spot a wreath or a snowman. They stay entertained—and I don’t have to answer my kids’ favorite question, “What can I do that’s fun for me?” #eyeroll

I sometimes get really down about how much has changed this year. But I do my best to refocus my energy on the wonderful opportunities we still have to make memories and have fun as a family.

The holiday Bingo cards are one way to do that!

I designed a set of four different Bingo cards so kids will mark off different squares, even if they both spot a candy cane or mistletoe. I recommend sliding them into a clear plastic sleeve: Kids can mark off the squares they find with a dry erase marker, and you can reuse the sheets time and again.

Download the holiday Bingo cards here!

Fun + free holiday activity printables for kids

If I hear the phrase “the new normal” one more time, I may scream. But the reality is we’re all adjusting to how the holidays are different this year. You might be going all-in for a holiday blowout. You might be paring down for a super-simple celebration. You might fall somewhere in between.

Either way, these holiday family activity printables will help keep this holiday season merry and bright.

So if your budget could use a load off, I know you’ll appreciate these free and budget-friendly activities. Download the holiday conversation sparkers, holiday Bingo cards or family gratitude journal—or all three! I’ve already heard so many touching stories from families who have filled out the gratitude booklet together.

So go ahead and get your copies. Please check back in once you’ve had a chance to use them. I’d love to hear how they added to your family’s holiday celebrations!

The post Holiday Conversation Starters, Family Gratitude Book + Free Holiday Bingo printables! appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Now I know what you’re thinking (because I thought it, too): How do you bring kids to the Nutcracker ballet? Won’t they talk through the whole performance? What if they kick the seat in front of us? Will it be scary? Can kids even sit that long?!

If it’s your child’s first ballet, no wonder you’re anxious! But it is 100% possible to enjoy the Nutcracker with kids. Heck, I’m living proof! Edie has been going to the Nutcracker since she was 3, and Maxine started joining us when she was 4. I’m not only still alive to tell the tale—I’m also excited for you to enjoy the ballet as a family!

Better than that, though, I’m going to share 19 tips to enjoy the Nutcracker with kids, whether it’s their first ballet or fiftieth. (Now that would be impressive.) Below, I’ll share my best advice to make attending the ballet with kids not only bearable—but fun. Plus, at the very bottom, I answer families’ most common questions about going to the Nutcracker with kids.

Plus, I’m updating this post for the 2021 Nutcracker season (since just about every aspect of life needs extra advice these days). You and your kids can have fun at the Nutcracker this year!

You may just start a new family tradition!

This post may contain affiliate links. Clicking and buying provides me a small income at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting To & Fro Fam!

How to go to the Nutcracker with kids

Doing anything new with young children can be stressful. Doing something new in a theater filled with other people where your kids are expected to sit still for two hours should earn you some legit parenting badges. 

But don’t give up before you even try to go to the Nutcracker with kids! I did it; so can you! Here’s how.

What to do before the Nutcracker performance

Here are some tips to see see the Nutcracker with kids—before you even leave home. Remember, preparation is key to having fun at a new family activity.

1. Go to the ballet during a matinee

I don’t know about yours, but my kids aren’t their best at 7pm. The witching hour is not a great time to see ballet with kids, but luckily, just about every ballet company offers matinee performances. Go to the Nutcracker with kids in the middle of the day: Most theaters offer 2pm shows or similar timing.

Bonus: Some ballet companies offer tickets to matinees at a discounted price!

2. Get cheaper Nutcracker tickets

I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time paying full price to see the ballet with kids. Since I’m just as focused on my children not kicking the person in front of us as I am on the performance, I don’t want to spend a ton of money on tickets. (I say this even though I absolutely value the hard work of all the performers and backstage folks who make this incredible production happen every year. They’re incredible!)

Here are some ways to get cheap tickets for the Nutcracker:

• Buy tickets on Cyber Monday. Many ballet companies offer discounted tickets after Thanksgiving.
• Sign up for your local ballet company’s newsletter. Performing companies will email subscribers when they have cheap Nutcracker tickets on sale.
• Look into Groupon. This is what we did one year, and I got half-off Nutcracker tickets. 

When you buy cheap Nutcracker tickets, you’re more likely to actually go to the ballet with kids. You’ll also be less stressed—no I paid $67 for this ticket so you’d better enjoy every single moment! That’s no fun for anyone. 

3. Buy tickets on the aisle

If you have any questions whether your kids will be able to sit through the entire Nutcracker, buy seats next to the aisle. If you have to make a quick getaway, you’ll have an easier time exiting if you don’t have to step over a dozen people on your way out. 

If your kids do need to leave early (as Edie once did when we saw the Cinderella ballet in Portland), it’s easy to slip out when you’re sitting next to the aisle.

4. Read books ahead of time

My girls are big readers, so I got a Nutcracker book for us to read before we attended the performance. Reading a Nutcracker book helps kids get to know the characters and the plot (to the extent there is one, ha!). 

Being more familiar with the Nutcracker story helped my kids sit through and enjoy the ballet; it will for yours, too. I really like this version, created by Jan Brett (the author/illustrator who made the much-beloved book The Mitten). Get yourself a copy before you attend the ballet with kids so you can read it several times before showtime.

5. Listen to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite

If you’re an adult with ears, you’re familiar with at least some of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite—it’s some of the most-played classical music of all time. Your kids might not recognize it though. Yet.

So put on classical music when the kids are playing and point out when a Nutcracker song comes on. Pull up the entire suite on Spotify when you’re eating dinner. Or borrow a CD from the library and listen to it when you’re driving to soccer practice. 

My older daughter now perks up when a Nutcracker song comes on: “Hey!” she says. “This is from the Nutcracker!”

6. Watch the Nutcracker on YouTube

There’s no need to watch the entire performance—that’s a bit overkill—but pull up a dance or two for your kids on YouTube. Then watch it alongside them.

Talk about the dance, what’s happening in the story, what the characters might be thinking or feeling, how it’s totally impressive that the ballerina can stand on the tip of her toes—anything to interact with your kids. The more they engage with the ballet, the more into the live Nutcracker performance they’ll be. 

Search for the dance of the Sugarplum Fairy and the waltz of the Snowflakes.

7. Dance it out

If your kids are anything like mine, they’ll want to dance immediately after watching the Nutcracker on YouTube. Cue up the Nutcracker Suite and dance on! Just turn on your camera to capture the unbelievable cuteness.

This is what the girls did immediately after we watched YouTube videos of the Nutcracker. Look at all those lifts and spins!

IMG_5251 from Catherine Ryan Gregory on Vimeo.

8. Take a ballet class

If your children are into ballet, sign them up for a ballet class or camp. Even super young children can take dance classes, and they’re beyond cute in leotards and ballet shoes. 

Truth be told, I signed up my girls for a week-long ballet camp one summer when they were wee, and it did not go well. They were super cranky the whole time and several days asked to go home. Maybe we’ll try it again next year, especially now that my older daughter is convinced she’s ready to be the Sugarplum Fairy.

What to do during the Nutcracker performance

You bought your tickets, you prepared your kids, you’re ready to go—hooray! Now that you’re seeing the Nutcracker with kids live, here’s what to do.

1. Get their wiggles out

The day of the Nutcracker performance, make sure your kids have an active morning. You want them to expend all their energy before going to the Nutcracker with kids.

So take them to the park, crank up the music for a dance party or let ’em loose on the trampoline. You want them to use up some of that legendary kid energy.

2. Talk about what will happen

That Daniel Tiger episode—”When we do something new let’s talk about what we’ll do!”—totally has a point. So explain to your kids what to expect when they see their first ballet. That might sound something like this:

“First we’ll find our seats. A little later, the lights will go down, and the orchestra will play music for a little bit. Then the big curtain will come up, and the dancing will start! There will be a break in the middle of the show called the intermission, when we can go to the bathroom and eat snacks. Then we’ll watch the second part of the show.”

The more kids know what to expect, the more comfortable they’ll be with a new experience.

Note: Even if your kids have gone to the ballet before, if it’s been a while, you should still talk it through. This is especially the case if you take them to the Nutcracker in 2021. Many kids may be extra nervous to do things in public since the pandemic began.

3. Eat and pee before the show starts

If you go to a professional performance, you won’t be able to leave and reenter the theater during the show. (The light from opening the door, and stepping over other people in the audience, disturbs everyone else.) So make sure everyone uses the potty, has a drink of water and eats something before the performance starts!

If your kids are like mine and for some reason resist using the bathroom, tell them ahead of time that this is an expectation. You can weave it into the summary of what the performance will be like.

4. Get a booster seat

Many theaters offer booster seats for free—check at customer service or coat check. Sitting higher will help your littles see the show.

5. Meet a ballerina

Most ballet companies have a meet-and-greet area for kids to see ballerinas and other Nutcracker characters. Look for them before the show, during intermission and after the performance. 

I recommend taking these adorable photos before the show starts. During intermission, you may need to return to the restroom, so best to get it done ahead of time!

6. Bring snacks

I don’t know about your kids, but mine can hardly go 5 minutes without asking for a snack. But most theaters don’t allow food once you’ve sat down in your seats. (I told my girls it was because they didn’t want the Mouse King to get into the seats and eat the crumbs!)

Still, bring a variety of easy-to-eat snacks for intermission. You’ll want to have your own on hand in case you end up waiting in the bathroom line, or the line for concessions is too long.

7. Pee during intermission!

My kids swore up and down that they didn’t have to pee during intermission, but I made us all go to the bathroom anyway. Big shocker: They did, in fact, need to go.

It would be a huge bummer if they had a potty emergency 5 minutes into the second half of the performance. So make your kids go during the break. 

8. Order snacks ahead of time

I’m not sure if this is just something Keller Auditorium in Portland does, or if it’s a brilliant trend nationwide: But here in Portland,  you can order your intermission snacks ahead of time, then just waltz up to the counter and pick ’em up. No waiting in super-long lines.

You just might want to order yourself a champagne to congratulate yourself for being so smart (and for successfully going to the Nutcracker with kids). 

Ordering a special treat like a cookie can make going to the Nutcracker as a family even more memorable. If your kids are like mine, they will reminisce about the cookie just as much as the actual performance!

9. Don’t sweat the kid stuff

Your children are young; they’re going to wiggle in their seats and talk during the performance. There, I said it. They’re not adults, so they shouldn’t be expected to act like adults.

So try not to get annoyed when they ask questions or move from their seat to your lap and back again. It’s totally normal.

10. Know your kid isn’t the only one

When it’s your child announcing “I’m going to be Clara next year” in the loudest whisper ever, it’s easy to feel embarrassed—but all the kids around you are probably embarrassing their parents, too. 

One year, my daughter was asking questions during the show because, well, she was 3. The lady behind us shushed her. I was like, Woman! She’s a kid. You’re at the matinee of the Nutcracker. Manage your expectations! Well, I thought that in my head and rolled my eyes at her. I hope that’s what I conveyed.

But the truth is, people going to the matinee of a kid-friendly ballet should know that kids are going to be kids! So they just need to chill out.

I have very strong opinions about this. Kids deserve to go to the ballet. And they won’t learn to love the performing arts unless they get the chance to experience them. So please, please don’t let a fear of cranky and kidless adults get in the way of going to the Nutcracker as a family.

And if you do get some serious side eye, send the unempathetic grinches my way. I’ll tell them off for you.

11. Be prepared to cut your losses

That said, if your children really aren’t doing well, you should feel 100% good about leaving early. If they really can’t sit, are crying, or are asking to leave, make a polite exit. 

After all you want your child’s first ballet to be a positive experience—for your little one and you! Leave before it gets ugly and  you’ll look forward to next year’s Nutcracker with kids even more.

More questions for going to the Nutcracker with kids

How long is the Nutcracker?

We went to the Nutcracker produced by Oregon Ballet Theater in Portland. The show started at 2pm and ended at 4:10. The Nutcracker is 2 hours long, give or take a few minutes. The show also had a 25 minute intermission, which is common for productions of this ballet. 

What is a good age to take kids to see the Nutcracker?

I started taking my older daughter to see the Nutcracker when she was 2 1/2, but that is definitely on the early side. She could sit through almost the entire show; we left about 5 minutes early. 

I started taking my younger daughter when she was 3 1/2. She had a hard time sitting in the second half of the ballet, though she did a good job overall.

4 is a good age to take kids to see the Nutcracker for the first time. That said, your child needs to be able to sit through roughly the length of a movie. If they can do that without many problems, they’re ready to see the Nutcracker ballet for the first time.

Is the Nutcracker too scary for kids?

The Nutcracker does have a few scary parts for children. There’s a section with the Mouse King and the other human-sized mice battling toy soldiers that was a little frightening; also, Drosselmeyer can be a little scary. 

I told my kids about these parts ahead of time, so they weren’t surprised by the scary parts. I also held my younger daughter on my lap during these parts. 

Overall, though, the Nutcracker is not too scary for kids. 

Do you have any questions about going to the Nutcracker with kids? Post them in the comments below and I’ll be happy to answer them!

Whether you’re going to your child’s first ballet or your kids are performance pros, I hope these tips on seeing the Nutcracker with kids helped. If you have any hacks to add, please share them in the comments!

The post 19 essential tips to enjoy the Nutcracker with kids + family [2021 Update] appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

2021 update note: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we celebrate the holidays in Portland and the metro area. Some traditional Portland Christmas things to do have been modified or canceled due to the pandemic. I’ve done my best to collect the most up-to-date information about Portland Christmas events but recommend you check directly with the event organizer before attending.

Some Portland holiday events are a bust, though, and it’s such a drag to go to one and be disappointed. So read all the way through to the bottom of this post to see a few Portland holiday events to skip.

So no matter what you celebrate, there are festive ways to get in the spirit in Portland, Oregon. Bundle up the kids, put on your Raffi Christmas CD, and get ready for the best Portland holiday yet!

The jolliest must-do Portland holiday events for families

1. Portland tree lighting ceremony

Portland gathers together in Pioneer Courthouse Square, aka Portland’s Living Room, to see the lights go on all over this 75-foot-high Christmas tree. There’s also a massive caroling event. You can’t get much more festive than that! See the website for more information.

2021 update: The city of Portland has made this year’s tree lighting ceremony virtual. The event will be live-streamed online, which you can watch from home (while sipping hot cocoa, naturally). You can still stop by Pioneer Courthouse Square to see the lit-up Christmas tree on your own!

2. Christmas lights at The Grotto

Holly jolly news: Christmas at The Grotto is back!

The Grotto is a Catholic sanctuary in East Portland, and during the holidays it’s filled with gorgeous lights, live music, puppet shows and a petting zoo with a camel! We went with a group of friends last year and had a wonderful time. Bundle up, because it gets cold! Read my full review of the Christmas Lights at the Grotto.

Buy your tickets online ahead of time. Tickets are timed and specific to a given night in order to limit the number of people who visit. This year, there will be no animal petting zoo.

What’s more, you can listen to live musical performances at The Grotto. Listen to Christmas carols and other seasonal music performed by choirs and other musicians.

2021 update: The Grotto has brought back its famous annual Christmas Lights at the Grotto event after taking a year off in 2020. Visitors aged 12 and over must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within the last 72 hours.  

3. Hipster Santa

Sure, regular Santas are a dime a dozen this time of year. But a Hipster Santa? Now that’s uniquely Portland. He’ll be at Pioneer Square Mall on Thursdays and December 1-2, complete with his white man-bun and Naughty/Nice arm tattoos.

2021 update: The Lloyd Center, home of Hipster Santa, is back to hosting the Big Guy for photo ops! Reservations are not required this year but strongly recommended. (Make reservations, for Hipster Santa or regular Santa, here.) 

If you’re not committed to seeing Hipster Santa, other (more regular) Santas sit for photos elsewhere in Portland, too. I have been told that the Santa(s) at Frog Pond Farm is vaccinated, which I feel great about!

4. Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition

Dozens of vocal groups duke it out, The Voice-style, at the Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Bring your kids to this Portland holiday event to sing along or just listen to your favorite seasonal songs. 

2021 update: The Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition is back in person this year! And this Portland holiday event is bigger than ever—literally. Caroling groups will sing in public spaces in a 10-block radius around Pioneer Courthouse Square. Then the top three groups will “battle” on stage at The Square on December 4, 2021 from 5:30-7:30. See the Figgy Pudding Facebook page for more info.

5. Tuba Christmas Concert

Roughly 150 tubas will play holiday favorites at this annual outdoor event at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Drop by the Tuba Christmas Concert for a song or two on December 11 from 1:30-3:30pm.

2021 update: The Portland Tuba Christmas Concert returns after a 2020 hiatus. The tuba concert will have social distancing measures in effect to reduce the risk of spreading germs.

6. Portland Zoo Lights

Most of the Oregon Zoo’s animals are asleep and staying warm during Zoo Lights, but you’ll see plenty of Christmas light displays and installations during one of our favorite Portland holiday events. We’re not the only ones who love this Portland holiday tradition: Zoo Lights is popular—and relatively busy.

Ironically, the limitations imposed because of the pandemic have made Portland Zoo Lights more mellow (and enjoyable, IMO). This also means it’s not an epic struggle to find a parking spot. Even better, take public transportation and don’t worry about parking at all!

Read my full post on going to ZooLights with kids for tips and all the details!

2021 update: This year, ZooLights is offering both a walk-through and a drive-through experience. The choice is yours! Buy tickets for timed entry to enjoy the 1.5 million lights, either on foot or from the car.

Zoo Lights runs from November 19, 2021 through January 9, 2022, excluding December 25 (Christmas). Walk-through tickets range from $16-29 and drive-through visits cost $65 per car. All admission is discounted 20% for zoo members.

7. Take a photobooth picture with a giant Christmas tree

If you go to Pioneer Courthouse Square on December 6, you can take a free photobooth picture or boomerang with the 75-foot-tall Christmas tree in the background. The photobooth is sponsored by Stumptown. See the website for more information.

2021 update: The photobooth is not currently operating.

8. Christmas lights on boats

At the annual Christmas Ships Parade, you’ll see regular boats decked out for the holidays—along with more Portlandia-type displays (like a glowing Sasquatch or waterskiing Santa!). See the event’s Facebook page for details on dates, evenings in December. In 2021, the ships float along different parts of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers between December 3 and 21, 2021.

Good news for 2021: The Christmas Ships Parade in Portland is *on*! You can safely watch ships while social distancing, so bundle up and stake out your spot to see this annual Portland Christmas tradition. Look up the schedule to choose a day to watch the Portland Christmas ships. Just remember to bundle up and maintain social distancing while you admire the parade. 

9. Ice skate around a Christmas tree

At the Lloyd Center in Portland, OR, you can skate in a rink in the middle of the mall. During the holidays, they install a tall Christmas tree so you can skate while pretending to be an elf. (If that’s your thing.)

Grown-ups can also skate around the tree to a live DJ on Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30-7:30pm. Visit the Lloyd Center skate rink site for more information.

2021 update: Ice skating is on! The Lloyd Center requires face masks for visitors, per Oregon mandates.

10. The Nutcracker

I’ve been taking my older daughter to Portland’s The Nutcracker ballet since she was 2, and we look forward to it all year! The music, the tutus, the dancing—it’s a festive way to kick off the holidays in our family, and will be for yours, too.

Level 10 travel tip: The Oregon Ballet Theater did a discount last year right after Thanksgiving, so follow their Facebook page to keep an eye on cheaper tickets.

2021 update: The Oregon Ballet Theater is once again performing The Nutcracker in-person this year! YAY! In order to attend, members of the audience ages 5 and up must show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test. 

Get excited to twinkle your toes by watching the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy! Then check out my post with 19 top tips to see The Nutcracker with kids.

11. The Nutcracker on Ice

If you’re more into hockey than ballet, you might like seeing The Nutcracker on Ice at the Lloyd Center in Portland. December 12, 11am. Check out this page for more details.

2021 update: The Nutcracker on Ice at the Lloyd Center will be performed on one day only. Dress rehearsal will take place December 11, 2021, and you can watch the performance then, too!

12. Portland Concert-at-Christmas

Can’t decide which holiday musical performance you want to see? Treat your ears to a Christmas smorgasbord of music at the Concert-at-Christmas, performed at the Schnitz.

This concert is like a who’s who of Portland musical performing arts. You’ll see orchestras, wind ensembles and even a percussion-only performance. Each group performs a holiday-ish song or songs, including many you’ll recognize. This year the concert is on December 26 at 7:30pm.

2021 update: The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall requires proof of vaccination or recent negative test result for all concert-goers, including children. All members of the audience are required to wear face masks.

13. Light the night on Chanukah

Every night of Chanukah, communities gather at Pioneer Courthouse Square to light the menorah. This year, Chanukah begins on November 29 and ends December 5, 2021.

The first night of Chanukah, November 29, kicks off the holiday with a uniquely Portland flair: They’ll be carving an enormous menorah made of ice!

Bring the kids each night of Chanukah to sing songs, make crafts and of course play the dreidel! See the Facebook page of Chabad of Oregon for details.

2021 update: The menorah lighting event in Portland is back in person this year. In addition, it is live streaming virtually, so you can Zoom in.

14. Help the Cinnamon Bear save the spirit of Christmas

Toddlers and young children can help the Cinnamon Bear and the rest of this live show’s cast save the spirit of the season. Held at Oaks Park, the performance includes music and interactive elements so your toddler is welcome to shout out responses!

Tickets include a cup of hot cocoa. This Portland holiday event is stroller-friendly. See the Cinnamon Bear site for additional details.

2021 update: Last year this event was a drive-in performance. This year, it’s in person at the Oaks Park Dance Pavilion.

15. Christmas lights and miniature trains at Aspen Meadow

Throughout the grounds of Aspen Meadow south of Portland, kids will see all sorts of holiday lights displays. There are also set-ups indoors, including a miniature village and train display. Visiting the Christmas Lights at Aspen Meadow is free and they accept nonperishable food donations for the Oregon Food Bank. December 8-26; see the website for more information.

2021 update: The event at Aspen Meadow continues to be canceled this year.

16. Ride the Holiday Express with Santa

You and your kids can celebrate Christmas by riding a twinkling vintage steam engine from Oaks Park, through the woods, and back again. Santa meanders through each train car, giving children an opportunity to say hello (and maybe whisper their wish list!). 

Choose from among hourly departure times and buy tickets in advance at the Holiday Express website.

2021 update: The Holiday Express Santa train is BACK!

17. Lights and Christmas events at Victorian Belle

At this historic Portland home that’s open to the public, more than a million lights and 10 Christmas trees make this a beautiful home to tour. Live carolers, Santa and hot cider are inside, too. Admission is between $5-12, most days December 1-26, 2021; see the website for more information.

In addition, the Portland Victorian Belle is hosting other holiday events. You can make a wreath, meet Santa, create kids’ crafts and even a night of live music with a special guest appearance from Krampus himself!

2021 update: The Holiday Belle light display is open again! See the website for general admission tours of the house and holiday events.

18. Holiday displays at Pittock Mansion

Pittock Mansion, the magnificent Victorian house/museum, decorates its many extravagant rooms for the holidays. See more about these events at their website. November 22, 2021 through January 4, 2022.

You’ll want to leave time to wander the grounds in addition to exploring the mansion’s interior. On a clear day, you can see an impressive view of the Portland skyline from the grounds.

This year, the holiday theme is “Critters Make Merry.” Volunteer decorators have turned each room into a themed display.

2021 update: Pittock Mansion is once again open! You can visit the grounds and tour the mansion.

19. Go caroling on a trolley

So you like to sing but don’t love walking around in the cold? Why not carol from the inside of a vintage trolley? The 2-hour trip around Lake Oswego and South Portland on the Fa La La Trolley will help you sing loud and clear for all to hear, complete with song books and seasonal treats. Kids are welcome! December 13 and 16.

2021 update: As of the time I updated this post, the Christmas trolley has not resumed its holiday runs.

20. Eat free cookies!

Holiday cookies are the best. Holiday cookies that you don’t have to bake (or clean up after) are even better! Get a package of locally made iced cookies for free at Pioneer Courthouse Square on December 17 from 1-2pm.

2021 update: This event is currently on hold.

21. Christmas in the Garden / Silverton Christmas Market

Less than an hour south of Portland, Oregon Gardens holds an annual lights extravaganza, Christmas in the Garden. The outdoor displays use a million lights to create imaginative scenes, tunnels and more.

Christmas in the Garden, which has been renamed the Silverton Christmas Market, also includes food and drink carts, a small holiday market, a snow-less sledding hill and indoor ice skating.

2021 update: After closing to the general public in 2020, this holiday event has returned! Now operating under the name Silverton Christmas Market, the lights event will run November 26, 2021 through January 9, 2022, closed December 25 and 26. Ice skating is not available this year.

22. Portland International Raceway Winter Wonderland

Yes, it’s cold outside—but you can enjoy all the Christmas sights from the warmth of your car at Portland International Raceway’s Winter Wonderland.

The Pacific Northwest’s largest Christmas lights event showcases epic scenes and animated displays. Your car will also drive through stunning lights tunnels.

November 29, 2021 is a special bikes-only event called Bike the Lights. The following night, November 30, is open for people walking their dogs!

Entry costs $28-39 per car (online tickets only) from November 26 – December 31.

2021 update: Winter Wonderland is on! No more than six people per car and one household per car.

23. Clackamas County Winter Fair

Just a few minutes’ drive from Portland, the Clackamas County Fairgrounds have been transformed into a festive extravaganza. Christmas lights tunnels and pretty displays line a quarter-mile pathway, making this an easy distance for young’uns.

Tickets cost $15; children 11 and under get in free. Check the Winter Fair website to buy tickets and see when Santa will be onsite, too!

2021 update: The Clackamas County Winter Fair holiday display is now open for walk-through visits.

24. Christmas Fantasy Trail

Feel like you’re walking through a fairy tail at the Christmas Fantasy Trail at Wenzel Farm. This annual, outdoor event includes a wooded trail brightened with Christmas lights.

Admire adorable cottages and walk across a mini-suspension bridge, too. This Oregon City holiday event isn’t fancy but is charming. Kids in particular love it!

2021 update: The Christmas Fantasy Trail is still canceled.

25. Christmas lights trail at Maddax Woods

Just a short drive from Portland, this holiday event is fun for families—including the dogs! Maddax Woods in West Linn is decorated every year with Christmas lights, including displays of native animals like owls and raccoons. 

This short, wooded trail has only a small parking lot so be prepared to park in the residential neighborhood and walk to the trailhead. It starts out with a short, steep hill but is an easy walk otherwise.

2021 update: As of the day I updated this post, I couldn’t find details about the 2021 plans for Maddax Woods. Considering this is an outside event, I am betting it will take place. Make sure you wear a mask and practice social distancing at this Portland-area Christmas event. 

26. Drive-through community events

COVID-19 can’t dampen our holiday spirits! In response to the many closures and cancelations this holiday, some communities are organizing drive-through events.

(We’ll be going to West Linn’s Candy Cane Lane drive-through this year.)

Simply search your neighborhood and “holiday drive through” to find one near you.

27. Help those less fortunate

Whether you volunteer at a soup kitchen, sing at a retirement community or fill a stocking for the homeless, one of the best ways you can celebrate the holidays is to give back. Make helping others a part of your holiday tradition this year.

Every year we buy gifts for a teen who is in the foster care system, through Project 48. Consider how you can make someone else’s holiday happier in a way that feels meaningful to you.

The Portland holiday events to skip

Not all Portland holiday events are created equal. Here are several I don’t recommend.

Reindeer at 7dees

You’ll never see more depressing reindeer, I guarantee it. They’re kept in a small pen on concrete, and they look so sad. This kind of animal display will not bring you holiday cheer.

Christmas lights at Peacock Lane

I may catch flack for this, but I wouldn’t recommend driving Portland’s Peacock Lane to see the Christmas lights there. It is so trafficked that it becomes a madhouse. The exception: Peacock Lane is closed to cars and open only to pedestrians December 15-17, so carpool or take public transportation!

2021 update: After taking a year off due to COVID-19, residents of Peacock Lane reinstated this Portland Christmas event this year.

How will you be celebrating the holidays? Do you have your eye on any 2021 Portland holiday events?

Want more family activities to do in Portland? See my posts on the Chinese Garden and the Japanese Garden, both kid-friendly destinations in Portland.

The post 27 Portland holiday events for families: 2021 update of Christmas things to do appeared first on To & Fro Fam.