Photo by The Square PDX.
Portland’s holiday season is getting a 75-foot head start. On Tuesday, November 10, the city’s massive Christmas tree arrives at Pioneer Courthouse Square, and everyone is invited to watch it go up for free.
The annual Stimson Lumber Tree Arrival brings Santa, live holiday music, free hot chocolate and a giant crane to downtown Portland. It’s a chance to see how the city’s Christmas centerpiece gets installed before the official tree lighting later this month.
2026 Stimson Lumber Tree Arrival
This year’s tree is a 75-foot Douglas fir grown on sustainably managed forestland in Gaston, Oregon.
On November 10, Highway Heavy Hauling will deliver the tree to Pioneer Courthouse Square, where crews from NessCampbell Crane + Rigging and Portland Parks & Recreation’s Urban Forestry team will lift it into place.
Visitors can watch the installation while enjoying a few free holiday festivities, including:
Free hot chocolate to keep warm.
A visit from Santa to kick off the holiday season.
Festive tuba music and appearances by city dignitaries.
The tree installation, featuring a crane hoisting the enormous Douglas fir into position.
The event is free and open to the public, with no tickets or registration required.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Time: 9:30–11 a.m.
Location: Pioneer Courthouse Square
Address: 701 SW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97204
Cost: Free
Registration: Not required
For more information, visit the Pioneer Courthouse Square events calendar.
When Is Portland’s Christmas Tree Lighting?
The tree’s arrival is just the beginning. Portland’s 42nd Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place on Friday, November 27, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
The free celebration features a community sing-along led by Thomas Lauderdale of Pink Martini, along with performances by local musicians and singers.
If you can’t make it downtown for the tree’s arrival, mark your calendar for the lighting ceremony later this month.
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Pioneer Courthouse Square
715 SW Morrison St.
Portland, OR 97205
(503) 223-1613
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