Residents

    • 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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Spirit of Christmas

  • Saturday, Nov. 25

    5:00 - 6:30 pm: Festivities and tree lighting at the Arts Plaza

    Arts Plaza directions

    The 26th annual Spirit of Christmas tree lighting – one of the community’s most popular events – will ring 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. 

    Sponsorships

    With support from our local event sponsors, the City is able to continue this beloved community event. 

    Become a sponsor

    Pay for your sponsorship

    • Schedule of Events
    • Downtown Fun and Activities
    Schedule of Events
    10:00 am-4:00 pm

    Photos with Santa at the Gresham History Museum

    2:00 pm-4:00 pm

    Historic Downtown business activities and treats for youth, open houses

    5:00-6:30 pm

    Music, 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 hot dogs, cookies, popcorn and more will be served, thanks to our generous Spirit of Christmas sponsors. 

    At the event, the City will collect canned goods to support Fill-a-Bag food drive. Last year, the residents of East County donated more than 555,000 pounds of food for the needy. Just 5 cents buys 1 pound of food, so bring that spare change, too.

    Downtown Fun and Activities

    The Spirit of Christmas is held on Small Business Saturday. The Historic Downtown Gresham Business Association is hosting a variety of family-friendly activities and business open houses before and after the tree lighting.

    From 2:00-4:00 pm
    • A Cajun Life: Blooms of Christmas festive flower arrangements
    • Anderson Martial Arts: Board breaking, face painting
    • Bella Cupcake: Decorate your own mini cupcake
    • Blondies Pizza: Pizza dough activity
    • Café Delirium: Phone calls to the North Pole
    • Feather Your Nest: Ornament making
    • Frenzi: Decorate tree ornaments
    • Gresham Library: Craft activity
    • iCandy: Gingerbread cookie decorating
    • KMO: Children's craft
    • SALT Academy: Dance class every 15 minutes
    • St. Henry's Church: Advent paper chain making
    • USWC Taekwondo: Kid's wonderland with crafts, bounce house, obstacle course and more. 

      Read the full schedule of events.

    • More information

      Contact Event Coordinator Shannon Chisom at Shannon.Chisom@gmail.com or 503-750-3785.