Portland tree lighting, Skate with the Grinch, and ‘Enchanted Toyshop’: 12 things to do this week

And just like that, it’s the holiday season again. Ready or not, much of the entertainment offerings for the next month will be filled with festive cheer and winter-time favorites. We’ll thrown in a few non-holiday options when we can. Be sure to check out The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com’s list of events, music, lighting displays, and other attractions.

Although the state-wide indoor COVID-19 mask mandate has lifted, some venues or artists still have restrictions in place. Check venue websites for information on specific COVID safety requirements.

Portland Tree Lighting

The in-person gathering returns to Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square to celebrate the annual lighting of a 75-foot tall Douglas fir. It’s historically a well-attended event that will again include a performance by Pink Martini’s Thomas Lauderdale and other local musicians and singers. Get cozy with a few hundred of your closest neighbors and celebrate the kickoff of the holiday season as Santa Claus ‘flips the switch’ bringing to life more than 14,000 LED lights on the tree donated by the Stimson Lumber Company.

5:30 p.m. Friday Nov. 25, Pioneer Courthouse Square; free; thesquarepdx.org

Tony Furtado’s Post-Thanksgiving Bash

Portland singer-songwriter Tony Furtado and his acoustic band return to Mississippi Studios for the 11th annual Thanksgiving Bash. This year’s event will feature acoustic, Americana, and Celtic-tinged party tunes performed by old friends including Luke Price, Stephanie Schneiderman, Keith Brush and Jake Jolliff.

8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25, Mississippi Studios, 3939 N. Mississippi Ave.; 21 and older only; $22; event.etix.com/ticket

‘It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’

Portland Center Stage presents a version of the movie classic that is “reimagined for the stage” as a live radio broadcast. The Dec. 14 performance is “People’s Party: BIPOC Affinity Night,” for all who identify as Black, Indigenous and people of color. At that performance, a pre-show DJ set happens at 6:30 p.m., with complimentary beer, and a post-show discussion with members of the cast.

Opens 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25, continues various times and dates through Dec. 24, Portland Center Stage at the Armory, 128 N.W. Eleventh Ave.; $25-$98; pcs.org or 503-445-3700.

— Kristi Turnquist/The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com

A Very Merry PDX-mas

Broadway Rose Theatre Company continues its 2022 season of musicals with the audience favorite holiday musical revue. If you’re into non-stop holiday songs, this is your show. Expect classic carols, holiday pop songs, and original offbeat material created especially for Broadway Rose that reflect the character of the culture that makes up the metro area.

Opens 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25, and continues 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through Dec. 22, Broadway Rose, 12850 S.W. Grant Ave., Tigard; tickets $30-$50; broadwayrose.org or 503-620-5262.

Skate with the Grinch

Lloyd Center’s ice rink will be all dressed up in festive decorations for dedicated skate events this season. Hit the ice with the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who during the “Grinch Skate” this weekend. This is an Instagram worthy event for sure. Extra points for dressing up to match the décor. Expect holiday music and some fun craft events. A portion of admission benefits the Salvation Army.

1-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, Lloyd Center Ice Rink, 953 Lloyd Center Blvd; admission $20, skate rental $5; www.lloydice.com

Corrib Theatre’s “Metaverse”

Playwright Hannah Khalil’s work is set in the near future and follows a tech developer who is replicating the sensation of human touch in Virtual Reality. The developer welcomes the technology as a way to connect with her daughter, but is it her daughter she’s really connecting with?

Opens 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, and continues 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays through Dec. 18, 21ten Theatre, 2110 S.E. 10th Ave.; tickets $15-$35; corribtheatre.org/metaverse

“Good Country”

Portland State’s opera program presents a tale set in the Old West, tracing the true story of Charley Parkhurst, a stagecoach driver during the California gold rush who was raised as a female in New England, but then ran away as a youth, took the name Charley, and began living as a man. Created by composer Keith Allegretti and librettist Cecelia Raker, “Good Country” is one of the first contemporary operas with a lead role crafted specifically for a trans singer.

Performances 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 26-27, Dec. 3-4, Lincoln Hall Studio Theater, PSU campus, 1620 S.W. Park Ave.; $15-$35; pdx.edu/events/good-country

Portland Ballet “Enchanted Toyshop”

After a five-year hiatus, The Portland Ballet is reviving its production of a show in which two children find themselves in a magical toyshop filled with dancing dolls and other delights. Run time is about an hour. Perfect for even the littlest dance enthusiasts. Audiences are invited to stay after the show to meet the cast and have their photos taken with costumed dancers.

1 and 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 26-27, Portland State University’s Lincoln Performance Hall, 1620 S.W. Park Ave.; $10-$38, theportlandballet.org or 503-452-8448.

“Welcome Christmas”

Big Horn Brass offers up its Christmas concert featuring the St. Matthew Exaltation Handbell choir. The program includes “Ukrainian Carol of the Bells” and “Wonderful Christmastime” by Ron Mallory. Big Horn Brass boasts 16 musicians under the direction of David Bryan and will perform Christmas classics including “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Ave Maria.”

3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, 12625 S.W. Crescent St., Beaverton; tickets $6-$10; thereser.org/event

Legacies I: The Creative Continuum

Fear No Music is celebrating the creativity of composers from generation to generation this season. Monday night’s concert starts with a meditative work by Young Composer Project alum Nathan Campbell and then travels back in time through the “sacred minimalism” of Ukrainian composer Victoria Vita Poleva. The program also offers an unusual chamber work by Gustav Mahler that inspired the Russian composer Alfred Schnittke. Also expect pieces by Brahms, and Clara Schumann.

7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28, The Old Church, 1422 S.W. 11th Ave.; by donation ($25 suggested) and RSVPs are required; www.fearnomusic.org

2022 Benson Hotel Gingerbread Masterpiece

This 50-year holiday tradition celebrated at the Benson Hotel continues this winter. Chefs create festive vignettes decorated for the holidays. The unveiling of the secret work will be Wednesday night. Chef David Diffendorfer’s creation will celebrate a major Oregon attraction. The unveiling event includes holiday music, cookies, beverages, and a special appearance by Santa. The gingerbread creation will remain on view through Dec. 30.

6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, Grand Lobby of the Benson Hotel, 309 S.W. Broadway; free; bensonhotel.com/portland

45th Parallel presents “Czech Mix”

This celebration of 45th Parallel’s 15th year features the music of Dvorak, Janacek, and Martinu, and other pieces all by Czech composers. Oregon Symphony principal flutist Martha Long will be joined by acclaimed pianist Maria Garcia to perform Bohuslav Martinu’s “Sonata for Flute and Piano.”

7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, 12625 S.W. Crescent St., Beaverton; tickets $24-$34; secure.thereser.org/460/461

– If you have live or virtual events you’d like to see highlighted at OregonLive.com or in the weekly printed A&E section of The Oregonian, please email submissions to events@oregonian.com at least three weeks prior to the start of your event. Digital images or links to videos are helpful.

— Rosemarie Stein

503-221-4376, events@oregonian.com; @trafficportland

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