Our video preview of the holiday lights at Peacock Lane in Portland
Peacock Lane should top any list of things to do in Portland this holiday season. For decades, residents of this street have gone all-out decorating their homes and yards for Christmas, and it’s now one of the best places in Portland to see holiday lights.
When I was a kid, my parents called any house that was fully decked out for the holidays a “gingerbread house.” Seeing lighted houses still faintly recalls the warm, spicy scent of gingerbread in my memory, and messy tables covered in stray icing and M&Ms. This memory of warmth helps a little in combating the chill of a December evening stroll along Peacock Lane.
But regardless of weather, December evenings see a steady stream of bundled-up pedestrians (and a very slow-moving train of cars) making their way along Peacock Lane’s four spectacularly decorated city blocks.
Many beloved fictional characters feature in the Peacock Lane light displays. Past appearances have ranged from the Grinch to characters from Star Wars, Charlie Brown, and Home Alone.
Santa of course makes many appearances, with my favorite being at the wheel of a VW bus and diving into a fountain (below).
In today’s post, I’ll share the highlights of the Peacock Lane holiday lights, and everything you need to know to participate in this treasured local tradition yourself.
Peacock Lane Hours and Dates
Check the Peacock Lane website for annual updates, but the light displays are generally on from 6:00pm – 11:00pm from December 15 – 31.
Visiting Peacock Lane is free of charge. In some years, the neighborhood residents provide optional hot drinks for a suggested donation. The proceeds support charities.
Walking vs Driving at Peacock Lane
A lot of people drive through Peacock Lane in their cars, but I’d recommend exploring on foot. It really puts you in the scene and makes it feel like exploring an enchanted holiday village. Otherwise it too closely resembles waiting in a traffic jam. Plus, the police occasionally close the lane to traffic if it’s too clogged.
If you are planning to drive, check the Peacock Lane Facebook page before you go to see if it’s open to cars that night.
If you’re walking, just remember to wear warm clothes, since it’ll likely be chilly. I chose this great Santa hat for the occasion last time!
History of Peacock Lane in Portland
Since at least 1948, this neighborhood in southeast Portland has put on the spectacular annual light show. While the event FAQ claims there’s no contractual requirement to decorate, I bet there’s some serious pressure to decorate for anyone who moves onto this street! I wonder if anyone’s ever moved here without realizing what’s involved.
I mentioned the tradition has run since at least 1948. That’s because the exact origins of Peacock Lane’s Christmas light tradition are murky. To see what could be discovered directly from the source, I dove into the historical Oregonian newspaper archives online.
An Oregonian article from 1950 (“Lights of Peacock Lane” advertises the holiday lights and mentions the tradition started a couple years before. Yet a 1987 article, also in the Oregonian, proclaims it’ll be the 40th year of the lights—that would place the beginning in 1947.
Either way, 1947/48 seems the most likely time frame. Some sources suggest its origins could instead be closer to the neighborhood’s initial construction in the 1920s. Check out this cool light display suggesting 1929, for example.
However, the only 1929 newspaper reference I could find to lights and Peacock Lane was a short Oregonian article explaining that Peacock Lane’s gas street lamps were being upgraded to electric lights. Not very festive! It’s possible the tradition did begin earlier, and it just wasn’t documented in the newspapers until later on. If you’ve found earlier references, let me know in the comments! I love learning more about the history of Portland.
Regardless of the exact start date, Peacock Lane’s residents have been going all-out on the holiday decorations for more than 70 years. Strolling along this quaint lane lined with cheerful holiday lights is now a favorite tradition for Portlanders young and old.
While You’re in the Holiday Spirit
Thanks for joining us at Peacock Lane! While you’re in the holiday spirit, another wonderful Portland tradition to check out is the Christmas lights at the Grotto. We’ll share more about the Grotto in a future post, but in a nutshell, it’s a highly unusual Catholic church that puts on an incredible annual Christmas light display on their grounds. After strolling among the lights, you can listen to live choral performances inside.
What makes the Grotto truly unusual is the topography. It’s built at the base of a huge cliff. A sanctuary is carved into the cliff, and an elevator takes visitors to a wide mesa at the top of the cliff. On top is an extensive garden with walking paths to explore.
Other Adventures in the Pacific Northwest
For more travel ideas in the Pacific Northwest, check out our PNW Trip Planner. You can find adventures near you and filter by season and difficulty level. There are weird and wonderful things to explore any time of year. The trip planner links to blog posts to help you plan your next adventure.
Happy exploring!
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