Holiday Markets and Festivals Across the Willamette Valley
There’s something magical about strolling through Willamette Valley’s communities during the holiday season. Mom-and-pop shops fill their windows with holiday decor, excited conversations waft onto the sidewalk from cozy restaurants, and twinkling lights dangle from trees and lamp posts.
Small-town charm and citywide cheer can be found in communities large and small—complete with light displays, markets, and other fun events. Here are a few memorable ways to spend your holidays in the Willamette Valley.
Historic Tours and Decorative Displays Across Albany
Albany is a city steeped in history. More than 800 buildings can be found across four historic districts, and a number of historic attractions—including an old-school theater, covered bridges, and the Historic Carousel & Museum—offer a glimpse of the community’s past.
Every holiday season, the old-fashioned Christmas Parlor Tour invites visitors to walk through multiple homes decked out in holiday decor. Get your tickets for this year's tour, which will take place on Dec. 14, 2025, in the Monteith Historic District.
Another popular tradition is when downtown merchants decorate their windows holiday-themed decorations and scenes throughout the season, bringing a joyful air to Albany's historic downtown core.
Monteith House with Snow by Melinda Martin
Celebrate Winter’s Eve in Corvallis
For two decades, the Winter’s Eve Corvallis celebration has taken over downtown with a variety of fun offerings. The event takes place on December 5, 2025, and includes shopping, the chance to sample local food items, Oregon-made craft beer, Willamette Valley wine, raffle prizes, and a silent auction—all in a heated tent.
Excited for all the wintry fun? Check out our guide to shopping local in the Willamette Valley this season.
Holiday Happenings in Oregon Wine Country
The likes of Newberg, Dundee, and McMinnville make up the heart of Oregon Wine Country—and bring plenty of cheer all season long.
With bright lights and heated sidewalk patios, downtown McMinnville’s Third Street is a party all year long. But an extra dose of cheer washes across the community throughout the holidays—thanks to a number of local events and offers. Between November 8 and December 31, 2025, shoppers who spend at least $25 at participating downtown retailers can take part in the Merry McMinnville Scratch and Win contest—and win a variety of great prizes for supporting local businesses.
For old-school fun, check out the Glide & Gather Skating Experience at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. On weekends throughout the holiday season, visitors can go ice skating in the shadow of the world-famous Spruce Goose—with food trucks, beverage producers, and other local vendors on site. Also on site is the Goose Lights seasonal celebration.
New this year is the Wonderland Brew Fest, which takes place Dec. 19-21, 2025, at The Bitter Monk in the heart of downtown McMinnville. The festvial covers a variety of seasonal beers and ciders, as well as live music and artisan snacks.
In nearby Dayton, Courthouse Square Park hosts an installation of faux icicles, ornaments, and colorful arches all season long.
Markets and More in Salem, Silverton, and Beyond
In Salem proper, the three-day Salem Holiday Market wants to help kickstart your shopping; from December 12-14, 2025, more than 250 vendors will sell handmade, home-grown, and locally crafted items—including toys, ornaments, snacks, and candles. Other attractions include a gingerbread house contest and appearance from Santa Claus.
Downtown Silverton, meanwhile, will be all aglow in lights and seasonal displays between November 21 and December 31, 2025—and the nearby Silverton Christmas Market is a cherished tradition that brings together more than 1.5 million twinkling lights, local vendors, seasonal snacks, appearances from Santa Claus, and even a snowless tubing hill. Take a shuttle from three locations around town, including downtown Silverton, for a convenient start to your visit.
Further west, the Making Spirits Bright festivities begin on December 5, 2025, with a holiday market with local vendors, tree lighting, parade, cookie decorating, and photos with Santa Claus in Monmouth. Throughout the rest of the holiday season, Monmouth will celebrate with nightly light displays, a passport program that encourages visitors to check out local businesses, bazaars, and other fun events.
Christmas Storybook Land Brings Holiday Cheer to Albany
A beloved holiday tradition for roughly 50 years and counting, Christmas Storybook Land celebrates the magic of the season in Albany. Happening November 29 to December 21, 2025, the indoor event pays tribute to childhood nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and holiday movies with lights, themed displays, visits from Santa Claus, and more.
Special events are offered on various nights, and a number of displays are from the Pastega Christmas Lights attraction, which was held in Corvallis for decades until ending in 2023.
