🌱 Portland Christmas Tree Lighting + Local Holiday Weekend Events

Good morning, Portland! Like many of you, the Patch staff will be taking some time off for the Thanksgiving holiday, so you won’t see a newsletter from me tomorrow. We’ll be back bright and early Saturday morning, but for now, here’s all the most important things happening in the community.

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 53 Low: 37.

Here are the top three stories today in Portland:

1. On Friday, Portland's famous Christmas tree will be lit in the annual celebration. Located at Pioneer House Square in the heart of downtown, the tree will be lit in a festive holiday event! The 75-foot Douglas fir – covered in over 9,500 lights – will be switched on in the midst of a sing-along. That won't be the only music on hand; plenty of local Portland musicians and singers will be present to perform at the joyous celebration. (KGW.com)
2. Need some ideas on how to best spend the holiday weekend in Portland? You're in luck – there are tons of different ways to have fun after the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving! There will be house music dance parties, specialty cocktail events, and hilarious comedy shows. A complete list of event is at the link. (Willamette Week)
3. This year, a record number of people have been showing up at local food banks and food pantries in need of help, and the Portland area in particular is feeling the stress. According to food banks in Portland, the number of clients has nearly doubled since last month. On Monday alone one such food bank, the Sunshine Division, served close to 1,300 households. Last year on the same day, the only sold 630. Food banks and pantries are asking for donations to support the increasing numbers. (Fox 12 Oregon)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Portland:

• 2022 PDX Tofurky Trot At Oaks Park Dance Pavilion (8:30 AM)
• Thanksgiving Day Cruises At Portland Spirit Salmon Springs Dock (11:00 AM)
• 4-Course Dinner At Metropolitan Tavern (12:00 PM)
• Thanksgiving Dinner Feast And A Movie At Studio One Theaters (12:00 PM)
• Happy Hour At Spitz Portland (3:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Portland Trail Blazers know the importance of teamwork! Your favorite players are working together, and these shots show all the hard work they put in! (Portland Trail Blazers via Instagram)
• The Portland Police Bureau supported the 2022 Special Olympics Fall State Games at Providence Park las weekend. This was the first event since 2019, and featured over 400 athletes from across the state! (Portland Police Bureau via Instagram)
• This week, 39 preschoolers and 21 adults from the Ukraine Refugee Committee went on a lovely Ladybug Nature Walk! It was a fantastic day spent enjoying nature with the Portland Parks & Recreation team. (Portland Parks & Recreation via Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today! Have a happy Thanksgiving!

— Helen Eckhard

About me: Helen Eckhard is a marketing associate at Lightning Media Partners. Outside of work, she enjoys constructing crossword puzzles, knitting, or devising increasingly crafty ways to kill off characters in her mystery novels.