Where will West Linn light its tree this year? For more than two decades, the answer pointed up the hill to City Hall on Salamo Road. In 2026 it points to a cider house on Willamette Falls Drive, at the end of a parade, behind Santa's sleigh.
The City of West Linn won't host its Holiday Tree Lighting & Community Celebration this year. Its Holiday Parade and the Historic Willamette Main Street tree lighting are now one event on Saturday, Dec. 5. Each piece of the season was already drifting toward Historic Willamette, and this change finishes the move. The parade, the tree, Small Business Saturday and the December market now all happen within a few blocks of the same street.
Last year it took two nights and two trees
In 2025, West Linn lit two trees in two places. On Nov. 29, Historic Willamette lit its Main Street Holiday Tree in front of the Ale & Cider House at 6 p.m. The tree was donated by Holy Star Farm, the West Linn Chorus sang, and people were asked to bring donations for the West Linn Food Pantry. A week later, on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, the City held its 24th annual celebration at West Linn City Hall, 22500 Salamo Road. Santa lit the tree at 6 p.m., with photos, carolers, cookies, cocoa and candy canes.
The City Hall version had a long run. In 2023, the 22nd annual lighting outside City Hall had Santa arriving on a vintage fire truck, followed by visits with Santa and cookies from Mrs. Claus, as Pamplin Media reported that November.
For 2026, the hill event is gone and the two traditions share one date. The City explains the change on its tree lighting page:
"By combining these beloved traditions, we hope to create an even more memorable celebration filled with holiday cheer, community connection, and fun for everyone. We can't wait to celebrate the season with you in Historic Willamette!"
The page calls it "one bigger, more festive holiday event" and labels it "A New Holiday Tradition."
How Dec. 5 runs, from parking to the tree
This year's parade theme is "LIGHT UP THE NIGHT." It steps off at 5 p.m. in the Historic Willamette Main Street area. The details on the City's parade page matter more than usual this year, because one event now draws the crowds that used to split between two locations.
| Time on Sat., Dec. 5 | What happens |
|---|---|
| 3 p.m. | Parking along the parade route begins closing; cars left on the route may be towed |
| 4 p.m. | Willamette Falls Drive closes completely |
| 5 p.m. | Holiday Parade begins |
| About 6 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. | Santa lights the tree in front of the Ale & Cider House, 1720 Willamette Falls Drive |
| 6 p.m. | Scheduled end of the Willamette Falls Drive closure |
There are two times for the tree. Historic Willamette lists its lighting at 6 p.m. in front of the Ale & Cider House. The City says Santa will be the very last parade entry. When his sleigh passes, people are invited to walk behind the parade and follow him to the tree. He won't light it until the parade finishes its route, at about 6:15 p.m. In practice, the sleigh is your cue, not the clock.
If you're bringing kids who want to see both the parade and the lighting, a few plans follow from those rules:
- Park before 3 p.m. or well off Willamette Falls Drive. The City's notice says "NO PARKING ON WILLAMETTE FALLS DR," and cars on the route may be towed.
- Choose your parade spot knowing you'll walk to 1720 Willamette Falls Drive afterward, behind Santa.
- If you plan to eat nearby, book a table that starts before 4 p.m. or after the tree is lit, since the street itself is closed from 4 to 6 p.m.
The City is also recruiting. Its page asks for "a huge volunteer force to keep everyone safe," and it takes parade entries through an online form linked there.
The block around the tree
With only the Main Street tree lit this year, the after-party stays on Willamette Falls Drive. City Hall had cocoa and cookies. The Ale & Cider House sits among restaurants that Historic Willamette's food and drink directory lists within a few doors of each other:
- Ale & Cider House, 1720 Willamette Falls Drive, where the tree stands
- J Willy's Public House & Eatery, 1717 Willamette Falls Drive
- Sushi Bomb, 1721 Willamette Falls Drive
- Essence of China, 1727 Willamette Falls Drive
- West Linn Saloon & Steakhouse, 1731 Willamette Falls Drive
- Nineteen33 taproom, 1873 Willamette Falls Drive
- Chantrel Bar & Restaurant, 1914 Willamette Falls Drive
Five of those addresses fall between 1717 and 1731, a short walk from the tree. Nineteen33 and Chantrel are a little farther down the street.
Two fall openings outside the district give parade-goers coming from other parts of town more options. Nuevo Mazatlan held its grand opening on Oct. 7 at 18740 Willamette Drive, Suite 200, in the former Bugatti's space, according to the West Linn Tidings. Fast Times Pizza opened its second location on Sept. 17 in the former Backyard Burgers site next to Kartcade along Highway 43, the Tidings reported.
The rest of the season leads to the same street
With the parade and the tree combined, the whole holiday calendar runs toward Historic Willamette. Only the first event is somewhere else.
Nov. 14 and 15, this weekend. West Linn Parks & Recreation's free Holiday Bazaar runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days at the Adult Community Center, 1180 Rosemont Road. More than 40 local vendors are expected. It's the one stop away from Willamette Falls Drive, and the City's bazaar page has the details.
Nov. 28. Historic Willamette's Small Business Saturday starts at 10 a.m. The listing gives the Main Street address as 1754 Knapps Alley and encourages people to shop and dine locally in the district. The district's shop directory includes Hometown Sports at 1795 Willamette Falls Drive, Morrow Flowers at 1871, The Vintage at 1665 and World HeARTs Fair Trade at 1833. A newer neighbor at 1914 Willamette Falls Drive is Green Velvet Head Spa, which held its grand opening and ribbon cutting Oct. 2 in Suite 210, alongside Lumiere Red Light Spa.
Last year, this Saturday after Thanksgiving was also tree-lighting night on Main Street. In 2026, Nov. 28 is only about shopping, and the tree waits a week for the parade.
Dec. 5. The parade and tree lighting, as laid out above.
Dec. 12. The Winter In Willamette Holiday Market runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It includes a scavenger hunt, and district businesses will be sharing holiday cheer. At 3 p.m., Historic Willamette announces the winners of its business and organization wreath contest. The 3 p.m. announcement anchors the afternoon. If you get there around then, you can see the winning wreaths and still have two hours to shop.
For families who used to split the season between the Main Street lighting one weekend and the City Hall gathering the next, the calendar now has fewer stops and more crowded ones. The bazaar on Rosemont Road comes first. After it, each event lands on the same few blocks of Willamette Falls Drive, and the biggest night of the year is the one when the street is closed to cars.
We're making our own Dec. 5 plans now, and we're happy to share the parking and timing details that make the evening easier. If the holidays have you thinking about where your family wants to be next December, the team at Place Portland would be glad to talk it through with you. Schedule a Strategy Session whenever it suits you.
