Residents

Spirit of Christmas

  • Saturday, Nov. 24
    5:00-6:30 pm
    Historic Downtown Gresham

    The 27th annual Spirit of Christmas tree lighting rings in Gresham’s holiday season with a free, family-friendly program that includes live music, hot cocoa, photos with Santa and the lighting of the 60-foot Ponderosa pine on the Arts Plaza. 

    Arts Plaza directions

    • Tree Lighting
    • Downtown Fun and Activities
    Tree Lighting
    Arts Plaza
    5:00 - 6:30 pm

    Music, pictures with Santa, free refreshments and activities on the Arts Plaza. 

    6:00 pm

    The tree is lit promptly at 6:00 pm.

    At the Arts Plaza, Santa will greet the crowd, listen to the children's wish lists, pose for photos and assist Mayor Shane Bemis in leading the countdown to the tree lighting. Live music performances include local groups and schools. Free cocoa, cider and various food and treats will be served, thanks to our generous 2018 Spirit of Christmas sponsors. 

    At the event, the City will collect canned goods to support the Fill-a-Bag food drive. Last year, residents donated over 550,000 pounds of food for the needy. Just 5¢ buys 1 pound of food, so bring that spare change, too.

    Downtown Fun and Activities

    Make a day of it – food, shops and free family fun!

    Celebrate Small Business Saturday in historic downtown Gresham, just blocks from the Arts Plaza.

    Print the Spirit of Christmas downtown activity map

    9:00 am - 9:30 pm, activity times vary
    1. Gresham History Museum, Photos with Santa, 10 am-4:00 pm
    2. iCandy, gingerbread decorating, 3:00-5:00 pm
    3. Hoppy Brewer and Center for the Arts Foundation, live jazz music, 6:30-9:30 pm, Hoppy Brewer
    4. Café Delirium, hot cocoa bar, 3:00-5:00 pm
    5. Anderson Martial Arts, face painting, 3:00-5:00 pm
    6. Frenzi Frozen Yogurt, phone calls to the North Pole, 1:00-4:00 pm
    7. Bernie Dexter, holiday open house, 3:00-5:00 pm
    8. Feather Your Nest, ornament making, 3:00-5:00 pm
    9. Bistro 214 and Inner Artist Paint Parties, holiday paint night, 6:30-8:00 pm (fee)
    10. Sugar Cubed Cakes, frost your own mini cupcake, 3:00-5:00 pm
    11. Shop Girl Consignment, TBD, 3:00-5:00 pm
    12. Books Around the Corner, “I Spy” Christmas game, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
    13. US World Class Taekwondo, ornament making, 3:00-5:00 pm
    14. Maggie Mae’s Kids Bookshop, gift bag decorating and local author reading, 3:00-5:00 pm
    15.  Pie vs Pie, holiday baking craft, 3:00-5:00 pm
    16. Fill-a-Bag, holiday character breakfast; free pancake breakfast with donations benefiting SnowCap Community Charities, 9:00 am
    17. SALT Academy of Performing Arts, Spirit of Christmas Holiday Bazaar, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
    18. Party Surprise, Christmas origami and crafts, 3:00-5:00 pm
    Cocoa Crawl

    4:00-6:00 pm, family-friendly event

    New! Enjoy hot cocoa and beverages at nine "Sip Stops" at downtown Gresham businesses. The last sip-stop is at the Arts Plaza for the tree lighting event. Purchase a $10 commemorative mug to participate. A Gresham-Barlow Education Foundation event. Read about the Cocoa Crawl and where to purchase a mug.

    Shop Small Saturday

    Visit the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce for a list of local participating Shop Small Saturday businesses.

    • Gallery Holiday Tree Lights
    • Santa Claus on his way to help light Gresham's Christmas tree
    • Spirit of Christmas participants
    • Spirit of Christmas choir singers
    • Spirit of Christmas participant with hot cocoa
    • City of Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis with event emcee Greg Matthews
    • Spirit of Christmas attendees
    • Santa Claus with a visitor to the City's Spirit of Christmas event

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    • Grab hot cocoa downtown and visit Gresham's 60-foot Christmas tree dressed in lights for the holidays through December on the Arts Plaza. 

  • Sponsorships

    Be part of Gresham's holiday spirit. Sponsorship details and sign-up form.

    Event questions?

    Contact Sasha Konell, 503-618-2264 or Sasha.Konell@GreshamOregon.gov