Do You Miss the Portland Meir & Frank's Upstairs Holiday Display??

The holidays are the time of traditions!! Our family does a lot of the local events around Camas, Washougal, Vancouver and Portland. There is a lot to choose from around here! We're lucky that we are only 15-20 minutes away from large events services..

I'd like to hear some of your favorite family traditions too!

The calendar events listed below, I copied and pasted from our local Metro Parent magazine. If you'd like to visit their webpage, please CLICK HERE!

Our family tries to dress warmly and go to the Thanksgiving Parade. My husband's grandmother used to take him to the parade every year. This year it is sponsored by Macy's. It used to be a big thing to go to the parade and also to the old Meir & Frank's store, which is no longer there! We're sad! Meir & Franks had the best holiday display up on their "13th" floor! Every year it was different. And..they had this COOL monorail type thing on the ceiling that rode around the whole big room on a track kind of system. The delightful thing about it was hearing the children riding the train yell down from the monorail windows and wave at the parents smiling up from below. It's all gone now, but not forgotten. Macy's holiday upstairs can't compete!!! We miss our tradition!

Here's a calendar that has events for your family! Enjoy!

Friday, Nov. 28

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and Santa Land Opening.

The parade, with cool new inflatable floats and lots of marching bands, starts at 8:45 am at Lincoln High School, goes North on 14th, East on Alder, South on Second, West on Taylor back to Lincoln High school. As soon as Santa is done with the parade he hustles to the Macy's downtown store (621 SW 5th Ave.) to open Santa Land for the season about noon. Santa Land is on the lower level.

Santa Land info line: 503-248-5415. www.macyssantaland.com.

Vancouver Festival of Trees.

Enjoy the decorated trees and activities. 9 am to 7 pm Nov. 28. 9 am to 3:30 pm Nov. 29. 10 am to 4 pm Nov. 30. $5 adults, $3 ages 6 to 12, free under 6. Special Teddy Bear Carnival for ages 2 to 10, 9 am to noon Sat. Nov. 29, features beanbag toss, velcro darts, face paintings, stories and more. $5 per child.

Hilton Vancouver, 301 W 6th St. 360-750-0409. www.festivaloftrees.net.

Holiday Wreath Making.

Grown-ups make wreaths; kids make pine cone bird feeders and other fun stuff. All ages. 11:30 am Nov. 28, 29 and 30. $12 for wreath makers and $3 for bird feeder makers; registration required (e-mail dberkshire@odf.state.or.us).

Tillamook Forest Center, near milepost 22 on Hwy. 6. 866-930-4646. www.tillamookforestcenter.org.

Vancouver Tree Lighting.

Vancouver's big tree will light up. All ages. 6 pm. Free. Esther Short Park, 610 Esther St. 360-750-0409. www.festivaloftrees.net.

Peter Yarrow at the Monkey & the Rat.

Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul & Mary) visits The Monkey & the Rat for a little holiday music-making. Autographed copies of Yarrow's new book/CD sets will be available. All ages. 4 pm. Free.

The Monkey & the Rat, 131 NW Davis St. 503-224-3849. www.monkeyandrat.com.

Pioneer Courthouse Tree Lighting.

The giant holiday tree comes alive in Portland's living room with entertainment, sing-a-long and Santa. All ages. 5:30 pm. Free.

701 SW 6th Ave. 503-223-1613. www.pioneercourthousesquare.org.

Holiday Gift Making Extravaganza.

Each of Portland Children's Museum's studios will feature a different keepsake project. Kids can also make holiday paper and decorations and listen to carols. All ages. 9 am to 5 pm Nov. 28, 29 and 30. Most activities free with admission of $8 ages 1 and up; small charge for some crafts.

4015 SW Canyon Road. 503-223-6500. www.portlandcm.org.

Singing Christmas Tree.

Fabulous holiday music and performances. A Portland tradition. Best for ages 6 and up. 2:30 pm Nov. 28, 29 and Dec. 6. 7:30 pm Nov. 28, 29, Dec. 4, 5, and 6. 1:30 and 6 pm Nov. 30. $12 to $75 plus service charges.

Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay. 503-557-8733. www.singingchristmastree.org.

Festival of Lights at the Grotto.

Breathtaking light displays, hourly concerts, outdoor caroling, petting zoo, puppet shows and more. All ages. 5 to 9:30 pm daily though Dec. 30 (closed Christmas Day). $7.50 adults, $3 ages 3 through 12, free 2 and under.

85th and Sandy Blvd. 503-261-2400. www.thegrotto.org.

Holly Jolly Hullabaloo!

Hansel and Gretel performed with silliness and pirates in the British pantomime tradition. All ages. 7 pm Wed. through Fri. and 2 pm Sat. and Sun. Nov. 28 through Dec. 28. $10 ages 13 and up, $5 ages 2 through 12, free 2 and under; reservations required.

Theater! Theater! 3430 SE Belmont. 503-286-3456. www.integrityproductions.org.

La Boutique Fantasque.

What happens when the toys come to life? Find out in this performance featuring young ballet dancers. All ages. 2:30 and 7:30 pm Nov. 28. 1 and 4 pm Nov. 29. $14 to $40; plus service charges.

Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway. 503-452-8448. www.theportlandballet.org.

The Jungle Book and Puppetz vs. People.

Tears of Joy puppets hit the boards with two productions this month. They explore the notion of family with Mowgli in an adaptation of The Jungle Book, based on the Rudyard Kipling novel. Best for ages 4 and up. 7:30 pm Nov. 14. 11 am Nov. 15, 22 and 29. 2 and 4 pm Nov. 16, 23 and 30. Then Nov. 28 and 29 at 8 pm, the hilariously whacky Puppetz vs. People sets the puppets against the scamps from ComedySportz for some riotous improv. Best for ages 10 and up. $16 adults, $14 children, plus service charges.

Both shows at the Winningstad Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway. 503-248-0557. www.tojt.com.

The Polar Express (Mt. Hood Railroad).

Listen to the story, meet Santa, sing carols and get your own special Christmas bell. Wear your jammies. All ages. 5 pm Nov. 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25 and 26. 8 pm Nov. 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 28 and 29. Runs through Christmas, sells out very early. $26 adults, $18 ages 2 through 12.

110 Railroad Ave., Hood River. 800-872-4661. www.mthoodrr.com.

PIR Winter Wonderland.

Spectacular drive-through light show. All ages. 5 to 10 pm Sun. through Thurs. and until 11 pm Fri. and Sat. through Jan. 1. $15 per car (cash or check only).

Portland International Raceway, 1940 N Victory Blvd. 503-821-4354. www.globaleventsgrouppdx.com.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Christian Youth Theater presents this rambunctious musical. 7 pm Nov. 21, 22, 28 and 29. 3 pm Nov. 22 and 29. 2 pm Nov. 23 and 30. $12 adults, $9 children.

Ft. Vancouver High School, 5700 E 18th St., Vancouver. 360-750-8550. www.cytvanport.org..

Thanksgiving Break Workshops at AC Gilbert.

Fun workshops for the days off school. While kids 6 and up are in the workshops, pre-schoolers will enjoy special activities free with museum admission. Nov. 24: Lego Lab Workshop. Nov. 25: Cooking Up Culture. Nov. 26: Holiday Table. Nov. 28: Clay Workshop ($17 non-members). 10 am to noon. $15; registration required.

AC Gilbert's Discovery Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. www.acgilbert.org.

Penny's Puppets at Milwaukie Grange.

Enjoy a puppet show. All ages. 10 and repeat 11 am. Nov. 15: Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar? Nov. 28: The Mitten. $5 each, 4 guests for $17.

12015 SE 22nd, Milwaukie. 503-282-9207. www.pennypuppets.com.

<!-- -->