November, Forest Grove

Forest Grove lights its holiday tree, and Santa arrives in the back of a police pickup.

Everything on the calendar The chamber year

When Friday November 28 in 2025. No 2026 date has been announced.
Time 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Santa Claus standing in the bed of a marked Forest Grove Police pickup truck at night, lit by red and blue emergency lights.

Forest Grove Police bring Santa in for the tree lighting. The program runs under thirty minutes, rain or dry.

The evening

Thirty minutes outside, then the rest of it indoors.

Two children in red winter coats standing on a street at a night-time community event. — A coloring contest picks an honorary tree lighting conductor from children eight and under.

The tree is lit, and then the evening moves indoors to Washburne Hall.

The program starts at 6 p.m. at the tree. College Way is closed while it runs, so park on the streets around it. When the tree is lit everyone walks to Washburne Hall for cookies, Santa, crafts, caroling and photographs with the Nutcracker, Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy, who come from Ballet Forest Grove.

Getting here

Practical

Park on the streets around College Way. College Way itself is closed.

Start 6 p.m., at the tree where College Way meets 21st Avenue.
How long outside Under thirty minutes. Washburne Hall opens straight afterwards.
Parking Open on the streets around College Way.
Getting to the hall Pacific University Campus Public Safety can give a golf cart ride after the lighting.
Cookies and Santa In Washburne Hall once the tree is lit, with crafts and caroling.
Photographs With the Nutcracker, Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy, from Ballet Forest Grove, in the hall.
Weather Rain or dry.

Washburne Hall is on the Pacific University campus, a short walk from the tree.

Pacific University

The coloring contest

A child eight or under turns the tree on.

The winner is named honorary tree lighting conductor.

Children eight years and younger download the coloring page, color it and drop it off. One entry is picked, and that child throws the switch in front of everyone.

The 2025 deadline, November 21, has passed.

The 2025 coloring page

Who puts it on

Who lights the tree.

City of Forest Grove Light & Power
Ballet Forest Grove The Nutcracker, Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy in Washburne Hall.
Forest Grove / Cornelius Chamber of Commerce
Forest Grove Senior & Community Center
Pacific University The campus, the tree and Washburne Hall.
City of Forest Grove The street closure on College Way.

Clubs and organizations

From here

The chamber year What else happens between the Corn Roast in September and Restaurant Month in March. Cornelius The parks, the library and the December tree lighting at Veteran's Memorial Park. Where to eat Somewhere warm afterwards, by category, with addresses and phone numbers.