Please have a Covid-free Christmas

December starts Tuesday, and you may be regretting various holiday traditions that just aren't safe to do this year. Famously, Peacock Lane will stay dark this year.

There are still a lot of things you can do. In lieu of a regular review today, I am going to give you some ideas now, while there is still time to book them or drop by.

(But it shouldn't be too hard to guess some of the coming reviews. And one of them might not be an activity so much as a fun place to buy candy.)

Christmas display at Enchante Choclatier in Milwaukie, Oregon.

https://enchantechocolatier.com/

Most of them are car activities, but the big exception was reserving half an hour at a fire pit at Plumper Pumpkin Farm, which come with a s'more kit for four. (You can purchase additional kits.)

http://plumperpumpkins.com/christmas_trees.php

Marshmallows roasting at Plumper Pumpkin.

Plumper is a pumpkin patch, but they are also a Christmas tree farm with trees, wreaths, and other greenery and foods, plus those previously praised pumpkin doughnuts.

Also, those car activities are not always drive-through light displays. We might just go to see a play and musical based on a beloved radio holiday tradition.

My sisters had some interest in doing the Cinnamon Bear cruise on the Portland Spirit, which I have felt would be overpriced and horrible (I could be wrong). Experiencing the show from the safety of our car (free of other people's children) at Oaks Park sounds like a swell alternative. We're doing it.

https://www.oakspark.com/pub/doc/Cinnamon-Bear-FAQ.pdf

But otherwise, paying to drive through a course of light displays isn't just for Portland International Raceway anymore. Now we can also do it at the Oregon Zoo, and I am fascinated to see how it works.

https://www.oregonzoo.org/news/2020/11/zoolights-display-will-open-drive-thru-experience

We do not have our ticket for this yet, because ticket purchases are on a seven-day rolling schedule. One advantage of this is that you don't have to worry about all of the sessions being sold out yet. That is not as true for Lightopia.

https://www.hillsboro-oregon.gov/our-city/departments/parks-recreation/recreation-fun/special-events/winter-events

The City of Hillsboro is also putting on a drive-through light display, at least partly to take the place of the Orenco Winter Village. 

One great thing about Lightopia is that it is free. That has also made it very popular, where everything before Christmas is already gone. The first opening we could find was on January 16th. If you want to go, you better jump on it.

I have heard rumors of some other displays in Washington if you want to go farther afield. These are all relatively close.

There is good reason to believe that next year will be better. For now, keep your holidays happy by keeping them safe.

ETA: Lightopia has added some slots after selling out. If you were having trouble try checking again.