Corn maze at The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie IslandPortland
daily 10 to 6, September 5 to October 31
An 8 acre corn maze, then a hayride out to the patch and the farm animals in the big red barn.
Fall in Portland3 things
The ones people drive in from other counties for. Most of them run the whole season, so you don't have to pick a weekend yet.
Bella Organic Pumpkin PatchSauvie Island
all of October · check the date
Free hayrides out to a 7 acre corn maze, which gets haunted on weekend nights, and caramel corn at the farm store.
West Coast Giant Pumpkin RegattaTualatin
Sunday October 18, 10 to 4, races at noon and 2
People in costumes paddle hollowed out giant pumpkins across the lake, and there is pumpkin bowling and pumpkin golf for the kids.
The little stuff, by town1 things
The city Halloween parties and the trunk or treats and the free stuff. Cities post their 2026 dates late, so anything marked "check the date" gets fixed the second it's announced.
Fall in Wilsonville
Wilsonville Harvest Festival
Saturday October 17, 10 to 1
Free pumpkins, horse and carriage rides and face painting, and the kids come in costume.
For the rest of your list
These don't need an address, tap them and they go on your list with everything else.
Christmas in Portland5 things
Most of these post their 2026 dates in the fall, so these show last year's windows. ZooLights sells out on the weekends before Christmas, so book that one first.
ZooLights at the Oregon ZooPortland
most nights late November into early January (last year Nov 21 to Jan 4) · check the date
The zoo train goes past life size animal lanterns, and there are light tunnels and elephant ears and s'mores.
Peacock LanePortland
nightly 6 to 11, December 15 to 31, first nights are walking only · check the date
One block of Tudor houses that each decorate their own way, with free cocoa and cider at the booth.
Christmas Festival of Lights at The GrottoPortland
evenings from Thanksgiving weekend to December 30, closed Christmas Day · check the date
A quarter mile walk through the lights, with carolers and a puppet show on the plaza and choirs singing in the chapel.
Winter Wonderland at Portland International RacewayPortland
nightly from Thanksgiving weekend through December 31 · check the date
A drive through light show on the actual race track, so everybody stays warm in the car.
Christmas Ship ParadePortland
most evenings in the first three weeks of December (schedule posted each fall) · check the date
About 60 boats lit up for Christmas cruise the Columbia and the Willamette, and you watch from the riverbank.
Town Christmas stuff
The town stuff, and I'll add the tree lightings as the cities post them in November.
Christmas in Gresham
Destiny's Wonderland
nightly in December · check the date
Over 200 hand painted wooden cutouts all lit up, and you can drive past or walk it.
For the rest of your Christmas list
This is the at-home stuff, tap them and they go on your list with the lights and the train.
put it on the wall
Turn your Christmas picks into a real bucket list
Tap the lights and the trains and the town stuff you want and pick the Christmas design you like, and I'll hold onto your picks. The Christmas lists are coming soon, and the second they're up your picks drop straight into the slots.
Good any weekend0 things
The stuff that doesn't need a date, for the Saturday when nothing's going on.
Portland fall and Christmas questions
When is the Giant Pumpkin Regatta in 2026?
Sunday, October 18, 2026 at the Lake of the Commons in Tualatin, 10 to 4, with races at noon and 2. It's free.
When is Peacock Lane lit up?
Every night from December 15 to 31, 6 to 11. The first few nights are walking only, no cars.
When is ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo?
It usually runs most nights from late November into early January. Last year it was November 21 to January 4, and tickets are timed.
who's writing this
Hi, I'm Amy.
We roadschool six kids out of a van. I'm just a mom with a Ford Transit and a lot of opinions about corn mazes, so if something on here is wrong, or your town's party is missing, email me at hello@bellebucket.com and I'll fix it.
put it on the wall
Turn your picks into a real bucket list
Tap the ones you want and I'll drop them onto whichever fall design you pick, then you add your own stuff (birthdays, carving pumpkins, whatever your family does). It prints big, like 24x36 big, and it hangs on the wall all season.